Covid-19: South Africa expands vaccinations to cover older people

A photo of a person taking the coronavirus vaccine PRETORIA, May 22 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) –South Africa expanded its vaccination campaign to cover the elderly after initially inoculating healthworkers and teachers.The country has said it intends to inoculate nearly 5 million citizens aged 60 and above by the end of June.One of…

Tunisia and Italy to open migration ‘hotline’

oRome and Tunis are looking to use the hotline to combat irregular migration TUNIS, May 22 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — A hotline would be established between Rome and Tunis to counter irregular migration amid a spike in arrivals at Italy’s Lampedusa island, Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said.Lamorgese is on a visit…

Nigeria army chief killed in aircraft crash: Media reports

Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Nigeria army chief ABUJA, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s army chief has died in a helicopter accident in the north central Kaduna State, multiple local media portals have reported. Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was appointed to the top post months back after President Muhammadu Buhari changed…

Covid-19: Excess deaths due to pandemic up to three times higher than reported, says WHO

GENEVA, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Up to three times more people have died due to the pandemic than indicated by the officially reported COVID-19 deaths, the World Health Organization said. So far, more than 3.4 million deaths worldwide have officially been attributed to COVID-19 since the disease first surfaced in China…

At least 10 workers dead in Russia sewage accident; 8 hospitalised

MOSCOW, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 10 people died Friday during sewage treatment works outside Russia’s southern city of Taganrog when they were overcome by methane, officials said. Local authorities said in a statement the accident took place at a pumping station in the village of Dmitriadovka outside Taganrog,…

Somali leaders gather for key election talks

Mohamed Hussein Roble, Prime Minister of Somali MOGADISHU, May 21 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Somalia’s prime minister has invited regional leaders to a fresh round of negotiations in the hope of resolving a protracted feud over elections that sparked violence in the capital.The troubled Horn of Africa country is experiencing its worst…

Update: Nigeria army investigating death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau

Abubakar Shekau is leader of Boko Haram ABUJA, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Twenty-four hours after media outlets reported the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, the Nigerian army says it is investigating the veracity of such reports.Army spokesman Brig Gen Mohammed Yerima said the army was still looking into what may have happened, but…

Covid-19: Africa has much higher mortality rate for very ill patients – study

CAPE TOWN (South Africa), May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seriously ill Covid-19 patients in African countries are more likely to die than those on other continents, which could be because of a lack of critical care equipment, a study published Friday said. Africa’s populations have so far been less badly hit…

91 European airports vow to be CO2 neutral by 2030

PARIS, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 90 European airports pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030, two decades earlier than planned by the sector. Airports Council International – Europe (ACI), an industry group representing more than 500 airports in 55 countries, proposed in June 2019 that its members be…

Canine coronavirus detected in Malaysian patients: US research

WASHINGTON, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Professor Gregory Gray at Duke University’s Global Health Institute tasked a graduate student at his lab with developing a pan-species coronavirus test in order to help prevent the next catastrophe. The idea was to deploy the tool, once its accuracy…