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photo : sputnik

Russia has become the first country in the world to register a vaccine against COVID-19, President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday  (11/08/20) during a government meeting. Russia's President Vladimir Putin said that the world has its first vaccine against the coronavirus. The President announced on a meeting with Russian Government members, via videoconference that the vaccine has been registered and his daughter is among those who have been vaccinated. The move comes before the country plans to start mass vaccination in October.

"As far as I know, today in the morning the first vaccine against the new coronavirus infection was registered. In this respect, I would like to ask health minister  Mikhail Albertovich Murashko to inform us more detail. Although I know, it work effectevely, forms stable immunity and I repeat, it has gone trough all necessary checks" President Putin said. 

As quoted from sputniknews.com, Russia's first vaccine against the coronavirus was jointly developed by the Gamaleya Research Institut and Defence Ministry. Clinical trials kicked off on 18 June and included 38 volunteers including President Putin’s Daugther. All of the participants developed immunity. The first group was discharged on 15 July, the second group on 20 July.

"It has a  more spesific effect, it forms stable anti-body and cell-mediated immune response. I also know it very well, because one of my daugthers was subject to this vaccine. I think it means that she took part of this experiment" President Putin added. 

The vaccine was named 'Sputnik V' in reference to the 1957 launch of a Soviet satellite, which opened space to exploration by humans. The vaccine is expected to go into civilian circulation on 1 January 2021, according to the registration certificate. The vaccine developers have prepared documents for further clinical trials involving several thousand people. For emergency monitoring of the health status of those vaccinated and to control effectiveness and safety, the Russia Healthcare Ministry is developing a single digital system that makes it possible to monitor the safety and quality of the medication at all stages of the life cycle. This includes a registry of the vaccinated patients////Kremlin realese/Sputniknews.com/NK/AHM

PHOTO : RNZ

Australia has reported the fewest number of new daily cases in its virus hotspot, Melbourne, since last month. But it also reported the nation’s highest daily death total since the virus outbreak began. As stated by APNews.com on Monday (10/8) the state of Victoria reported 322 new infections and 19 new deaths on Monday, with 14 of the deaths connected to outbreaks at aged-care facilities. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was more hopeful now that cases are stabilizing in Victoria than he has been at any time over the past week. But state Premier Daniel Andrews cautioned that not too much could be read into a single day’s worth of data, and that some of the state’s most stringent lockdown measures had only come into effect at midnight Sunday. The number of new cases was the lowest recorded in Victoria since July 29//APNews

PHOTO : YAKIMA HERALD 

A Royal Air Force surveillance plane flew over the English Channel on Monday as the British government sought to stop a growing number of people making the hazardous crossing from France in small boats. As stated by APNews.com on Monday (10/8) Britain’s Conservative government has talked tough amid a surge in the number of migrants crossing the Channel during recent warm summer weather. More than 650 have arrived so far in August — including 235 in a single day last week — with pregnant women, babies and unaccompanied children among them. An inflatable dinghy carrying about 20 people was met by a U.K. Border Force boat on Monday and escorted to the port of Dover. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said trying to make the voyage was “a very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do//APNews

PHOTO : ASTROAWANI

Lebanon’s government resigned Monday amid widespread public fury at the country’s ruling elite over last week’s devastating explosion in Beirut. As stated by APNews.com on Monday (10/8)  the move risks opening the way to dragged-out negotiations over a new Cabinet amid urgent calls for reform. Prime Minster Hassan Diab headed to the presidential palace to submit the Cabinet’s group resignation, said Health Minister Hamad Hassan. It follows a weekend of anti-government protests in the wake of the Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut’s port that caused wide spread destruction, killed at least 160 people and injured about 6,000 others. The moment typified Lebanon’s political dilemma. Since October, there have been mass demonstrations demanding the departure of the entire sectarian-based leadership over entrenched corruption, incompetence and mismanagement//APNews