US steps up efforts to fight virus surge fueled by Delta variant

 WASHINGTON, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden on Thursday stepped up actions to combat the spread of Covid-19’s surging Delta variant, asking every US federal worker to either declare they are fully vaccinated or wear masks and be tested. “We have the tools to prevent this new wave of…

Toxins likely in smoke from German chemicals blast

The cause of the explosion is not yet known LEVERKUSEN (Germany), July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German environmental authorities said they were working on the assumption that the smoke generated from the blast that hit a chemicals plant in Leverkusen could contain toxic compounds.The environment agency in the state of North…

Covid-19: France questions UK’s discriminatory and excessive quarantine decision

The UK has signaled out France due to the persistent presence of the Beta variant PARIS, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France said it failed to understand why it was exempted from a new rule allowing fully-vaccinated European Union citizens to enter England without having to quarantine.From next week, travellers fully…

French nuclear tests in Pacific: Pres Macron wants higher compensation paid to victims

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the media at Papeete’s harbor PAPEETE (Tahiti), July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A quarter of a century after France’s last nuclear test in the South Pacific, President Emmanuel Macron floated the prospect of better compensation for the victims during a visit to the French territory on…

Covid-19: Zimbabwe approves Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use

HARARE, July 30 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Zimbabwe has approved the U.S. Johnson and Johnson Coronavirus vaccine for emergency use.It is the first vaccine produced by a Western country to be licensed in the country.Zimbabwe’s Drug Control Authority said in a letter to the government cited by journalists that the vaccine meets its quality,…

Covid-19: Algeria seeks more oxygen for coronavirus amid shortage

ALGIERS, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algerians wait to receive free oxygen tanks offered by a private company in the northern city of Blida amid the coronavirus pandemic as the country has been hit by rising cases and constrained by a patchy inoculation rollout.The Delta variant caused 71% of total infections…

Covid-19: Burundi finally says it is ready to take vaccines, but with a condition

BUJUMBURA, July 30 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Burundi, one of the last countries in the world to start inoculating its population against Coronavirus, said it has agreed to take Covax vaccines but with a condition.The change of heart came a day after the IMF agreed in principle to a $78 million aid package…

US shooting: Gunmaker Remington offers $33m as settlement to Sandy Hook school massacre

Victims of the Sandy Hook school massacre NEWTOWN (Connecticut, US), July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The company that made a rifle used in one of the worst school shootings in the US has offered $33m to several victims’ families. The proposed settlement for the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre from Remington, America’s…

Tunisia political crisis: Nightly curfew extended by two extra hours

The curfew has been renewed every few weeks since October  TUNIS, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisian President Kais Saied has extended the nightly curfew by two extra hours, a day after he suspended parliament. He’s also sacked more government ministers in the wake of the dismissal of Prime Minister Hichem…

Bosnian Serbs defy top UN official Inzko over genocide denial

A Bosnian Serb poster glorifies Ratko Mladic, a general jailed by a UN court for genocide SARAJEVO, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bosnian Serbs have reacted furiously to a ban on genocide denial imposed by the international official overseeing Bosnia’s 1995 peace deal. UN-appointed High Representative Valentin Inzko said the ban…