Covid-19: South Africa reopens its land borders as cases decline

At least 20 border posts reopened Monday PRETORIA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa has reopened its major land borders with neighboring countries after closing them last month to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. At least 20 border posts reopened on Monday, with officials saying steps will be taken…

Chad to send troops to Sahel jihadist flashpoint

N’DJAMENA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chad will send 1,200 troops to combat jihadists in a flashpoint Sahel border zone, its president said, as France looks to reduce its longstanding military presence in the vast, volatile region. Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and France are holding talks on the future…

318 illegal migrants rescued off Libyan coast: UN migration agency

TRIPOLI, Feb 16 (NNN-XINHUA) — The International Organization forMigration (IOM) on Monday said that more than 300 illegal migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast over the past week. “In the period of 9-15 February, 318 migrants were rescued/intercepted atsea and returned to Libya,” said the UN migration agency.…

French Muslims rally in Paris against perceived Islamophobic Bill

Protest in Paris against anti-Muslim bill PARIS, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protesters rallied in Paris to demand that the French government abandon a bill aimed at rooting out Islamist extremism. The demonstrators believe the new bill tramples on religious freedoms and stigmatises Islam.Hanane Loukili, the School Principal and Co-founder of…

Ebola: Vaccination campaign begins in DR Congo as Tanzania, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia triggers emergency measures

The campaign started in the city of Butembo in eastern DRC KINSHASA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Ebola vaccination campaign has begun in the city of Butembo, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a tweet on Monday.Health workers at Matanda health centre, where…

History is made: Nigerian Okonjo-Iweala appointed as next Director-General

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the new director-general GENEVA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — WTO members made history Monday when the General Council agreed by consensus to select Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria as the organization’s seventh Director-General.When she takes office on March 1, Dr Okonjo-Iweala will become the first woman and the first…

DR Congo president appoints new PM, further sidelining Kabila

Tshisekedi (l) with Kabila during cordial times KINSHASA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Congo President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday appointed the head of the state mining company Sama Lukonde Kyenge as the new prime minister, capping a series of victories for Tshisekedi over his once-dominant predecessor Joseph Kabila.Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, a…

Covid-19: WHO gives green light to AstraZeneca vaccines produced in India, South Korea

GENEVA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization gaveemergency use approval to AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccines on Monday, allowing distribution to some of the world’s poorest countries to begin. “The WHO today listed two versions of the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19vaccine for emergency use, giving the green light for these vaccines to…

Tunisian PM dismisses 5 ministers from gov’t

A general view of Tunisian Parliament TUNIS, Feb 15 (NNN-Xinhua) — Tunisian head of government Hichem Mechichi on Monday decided to remove five ministers from their duties, said the government in a statement. “Pending the completion of the cabinet reshuffle procedures, according to which the new ministers obtained the confidence…

Nigeria says kills 2 most wanted Boko Haram commanders

ABUJA, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian security forces have killed two of the most wanted Boko Haram terrorist leaders in the northeast state of Borno, the army has said. The two, identified as Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib, were killed in an operation in Pulka axis of the restive Borno state,…