Covid-19: In world first, Cuba starts vaccine jabs for toddlers

A man holds his son outside a paediatric hospital in Havana, Cuba where young children can now receive the coronavirus vaccine HAVANA, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba on Monday became the first country in the world to vaccinate children from the age of two against COVID-19, using homegrown jabs not…

Venezuela political talks enter final day in Mexico

Police officers stand outside the Sofitel Hotel in Mexico City MEXICO CITY, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuelan political negotiators entered the last stretch of their latest round of talks focused on opposition demands for guarantees of free elections and government calls for sanctions relief. Representatives of President Nicolas Maduro and his rivals…

US: Trial of accused 9/11 mastermind restarts, days before 20th anniversary

   GUANTANAMO BAY (Cuba), Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The prosecution of alleged Sept 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others restarts Tuesday, just days before the 20th anniversary of the attacks, stirring newhopes for justice and retribution.   Mohammed and his co-defendants, who have been locked up at the…

Hurricane Ida: US Pres Biden approves declaration of ‘great disaster’ in New York and New Jersey

President of the United States of America, Joe Biden NEW YORK, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden on Monday approved the declaration of a “great disaster” for several municipalities in New York and New Jersey in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Ida, which hit the northeast…

Russia blocks digital page calling for opposition vote

Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny MOSCOW, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor blocked a website of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny asking for a vote in opposition to the United Russia party in the Sept 19 legislative elections.The “Smart Vote” page was blocked for using resources from Navalny’s…

Two opposition activists handed heavy sentences in Belarus

Belarusian opponents, Attorney Maxim Znak and Maria Kolesnikova MINSK, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Belarusian court sentenced two prominent opposition activists to long prison terms, demonstrating that the Minsk government continues its harassment of political dissidents.Maria Kolesnikova, head of the Coordinating Council, a body of opposition to the authorities, who…

Tunisian wounded in 2011 Arab Spring sets himself ablaze, says govt failed to compensate him

The deceased suffered gunshot wounds to the head at age 16 TUNIS, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A young man wounded in Tunisia’s 2011 revolution has burned himself alive after the government failed to provide any compensation, his family said.The self-immolation by 26-year-old Neji Hefiane recalls the death of Mohammed Bouazizi,…

Guinea-Conakry coup chief vows ‘union’ govt, no ‘witch hunt’

Guineans celebrating the removal of Alpha Conde by the military Conakry, Sept 7 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Lieutenant-colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the high-ranking officer behind Guinea-Conakry’s military coup promised to set up a unity government to oversee a transition period and vowed there would be no “witch hunt” against the former government.“A consultation…

Guinea-Bissau triggers prevention mode after coup in neighbouring Guinea-Conakry

Lieutenant-colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the officer behind Guinea-Conakry’s military coup BISSAU, Sept 7 (NNN-ANGOP) — The Guinea-Bissau Armed Forces are on standby “indefinitely” in all military units in the country, by orders of the Chief of the General Staff, Biague Na Ntan, following the coup d’état in neighbouring Guinea-Conakry. The preventive…

Opposition candidate Carlos Vila Nova wins Sao Tome presidency

Carlos Vila Nova SAO TOME, Sept 7 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Opposition candidate Carlos Vila Nova has won the presidency in Sao Tome and Principe, an archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea, according to provisional official results.The Portuguese-speaking nation elected Vila Nova of the centre-right opposition, who will now have to work…