Covid-19: Malawi burns 17,000 expired AstraZeneca vaccines

LILONGWE, May 20 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Malawi on Wednesday destroyed nearly 17,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that had expired in mid-April, with the health minister blaming “propaganda” for many Malawians’ reluctance to receive the jab.“The batch which had expired (has) been withdrawn from our system and has been destroyed,” Health…

Algeria labels opposition movements as terrorist groups

ALGIERS, May 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algerian authorities labelled two opposition groups based overseas as terrorist organisations.The High Council for National Security said the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK) and the Rachad opposition group were illegal and terrorist entities.In April, the MAK was accused by the Algerian authorities of…

Invasive species costing Africa $3.66 tn a year: study

ACCRA, May 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Invasive species introduced by human activity are costing African agriculture some $3.66 trillion every year — around 1.5 times the combined gross domestic product of all African countries — new research showed. Non-native species of weed, insect or worm can have catastrophic effects on farming,…

US to provide $155 million more for Rohingyas

GENEVA, May 20 (NNN-BSS) — The United States (US) has announced to provide nearly $155 million in new humanitarian assistance, much of which will go toward the 2021 Bangladesh Joint Response Plan (JRP). With this new funding, the US total humanitarian assistance for this response reaches more than $1.3 billion…

Inmates beheaded in Guatemala prison clashes: police

GUATEMALA CITY, May 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least four inmates were beheaded in a fight between rival gangs on Wednesday at a prison in western Guatemala, police said. The Cantel prison — located in Quetzaltenango, 205 kilometers west of Guatemala City — has inmates from both the Mara Salvatrucha gang…

Covid-19: Portugal donates 5,500 units of antiviral drug Remdesivir to India

LISBON, May 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Directorate-General of Health (DGS) of Portugal on Wednesday announced a donation of 5,500 units of antiviral drug Remdesivir to India. “India has requested the activation of the Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC) to deal with the serious pandemic situation that it has been experiencing,…

Covid-19: Argentina daily cases hit record high as Colombia reports 452 more deaths

Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Buenos Aires BUENOS AIRES/BOGOTA, May 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Argentina on Wednesday reported a record daily count of 39,652 COVID-19 cases, taking the national tally to 3,411,160, said the health ministry. The ministry said 494 more deaths were logged, raising the death toll to…

US sanctions former Albania leader Berisha over corruption

Sali Berisha WASHINGTON/TIRANA, May 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States sanctioned former Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha for alleged “significant corruption” and barred him and his wife and children from entering the U.S. Berisha, 76, who also served as Albania’s president from 1992 to 1997, is currently a lawmaker representing…

U.S. to waive sanctions on company building Nord Stream 2 pipeline: reports

WASHINGTON, May 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Biden administration plans to waive sanctions against a company and its head overseeing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany, US media reported on Wednesday. The State Department will report to Congress that “Nord Stream 2 AG and its…

US House passes legislation creating independent commission to probe Jan 6 Capitol riot

Capitol riot WASHINGTON, May 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The U.S. House on Wednesday voted to pass the legislation creating an independent commission to probe the Jan 6 Capitol riot. The bill passed mostly along party lines, with 35 defecting Republicans joining 217 Democrats in supporting the creation of the investigative panel…