UK covid vaccine rules cause hesitancy – Africa health boss

A study commissioned by Africa’s health body on vaccine perceptions found many people were concerned over safety  ADDIS ABABA, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The head of Africa’s health agency has warned that the UK’s policy of not accepting Covid-19 vaccine certificates from the continent could increase vaccine hesitancy. Dr John…

US shooting: One dead, 12 injured in supermarket shooting; shooter shot himself dead

   WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A shooter opened fire at a supermarket near Memphis, Tennessee, killing at least one person and injuring 12 others before he shot himself dead, police said.   The rampage occurred at a Kroger grocery store in Collierville, a suburban town east of Memphis.  …

France says UK’s Johnson offered to ‘re-establish cooperation’

   PARIS, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told French President Emmanuel Macron that he wants to “re-establish cooperation”, Macron’s office said amid a diplomatic crisis over a submarine contract with Australia.   Macron was left furious last week after Australia ditched a mega-deal to buy diesel submarines from France in…

US issues sanctions exemptions to allow Afghanistan aid

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States announced two exemptions to its sanctions imposed on Afghanistan in a bid to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the conflict-wracked, Taliban-controlled country. The provisions allow the US government, aid groups and international organizations “to engage in the provision of humanitarian…

Huawei executive freed in Canada after deal with US prosecutors

 VANCOUVER, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chinese telecoms executive Meng Wanzhou was freed Friday after three years of house arrest in Canada, following an agreement with the US Justice Department to suspend the fraud charges against her that had poisoned Beijing’s relations with Washington and Ottawa. Meng — the 49-year-old daughter…

Covid-19: Back from UN, Pres Bolsonaro son tests positive

 BRASÍLIA, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Jair Bolsonaro’s lawmaker son said he had contracted the coronavirus — the third member of Brazil’s delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York to test positive. Eduardo Bolsonaro, 37, said on Twitter he was feeling well and had “started to treat myself”…

Eight Nigerian troops killed in jihadist attack: military sources

KANO (Nigeria), Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least eight Nigerian soldiers were killed and several others were missing Friday after being ambushed by IS-affiliated jihadists in violence-wracked northeast Borno state.  A military convoy came under rocket fire by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants as it made its way…

French soldier killed in Mali

 PARIS, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France reaffirmed its determination to defeat terrorism after one of its soldiers was killed in a clash with an armed group in Mali. In a statement, the French presidency expressed “particularly strong emotion” at the news of the killing early on Friday and said it…

Catalan leader demands Puigdemont’s ‘immediate release’

     BARCELONA, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Catalonia’s regional leader called for the “immediate release” of his exiled predecessor Carles Puigdemont, who was arrested in Italy the day before on charges linked to a failed Catalan independence bid.     “We demand the immediate release of Carles Puigdemont,” Pere Aragones told a news conference…

Kenya first African nation to back Tedros second term as WHO chief

    NAIROBI, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya became the first African nation to back Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ bid for a second term as  head of the World Health Organization (WHO).    The 56-year-old Ethiopian was nominated by Germany on Wednesday in a move that surprised many observers, who had predicted that…