Covid-19: Ivory Coast becomes second country to receive COVAX vaccines

COVAX is a WHO-backed equitable vaccine distribution network ABIDJAN, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast received a shipment of COVID-19 doses from the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility on Friday, becoming the second country to benefit from a programme meant to ensure fairer distribution amid a global scramble.A plane carrying 504,000 doses touched down…

Somalia’s opposition cancels controversial rally after PM Roble intervenes

Somalia’s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble MOGADISHU, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s opposition politicians cancelled a planned rally in Mogadishu after Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble conceded some of their demands.The rally, which had been planned despite a ban on public gatherings to control the spread of Covid-19, was instead…

Nigeria seeks fund manager for US$37 billion infrastructure unit

Nigeria Central Bank ABUJA, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria plans to hire an asset manager for its new Infrastructure Corp. of Nigeria Ltd., designed to raise as much as 15 trillion naira ($36.7 billion) for projects and to accelerate growth in Africa’s biggest economy.The nation’s central bank and its funding…

Ivory Coast busts record $47 million cocaine haul of Paraguayan origin

The West African Coast has often recorded cocaine busts ABIDJAN, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast security forces have seized just over 1 tonne of cocaine in a night operation in a northern district of the commercial capital Abidjan, the West African nation’s gendarmerie said.Major drug hauls in Ivory Coast…

UN, European states call on Israel to halt demolitions

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nationsand European members of the Security Council called on Israel tostop demolitions of Bedouin settlements in the Jordan Valley, and forhumanitarian access to the community living in Humsa Al-Baqaia. In a joint statement at the end of a monthly session of the…

Covid-19: US set to approve third vaccine, but fears grow for poorer nations

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US panel recommendedJohnson & Johnson’s one-dose Covid-19 shot for emergency approval, as some of the world’s most powerful countries issued a unified call for better vaccine access for poorer nations. The United States is the world’s hardest-hit country, and its emergency useauthorization — which…

Covid-19: US House on cusp of passing $1.9 tn plan but wage hike falters

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Democratic leaders expressedconfidence that US President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid relief packagewould pass the US House, after a key Senate official ruled that the final version will not include a minimum wage hike. Biden had campaigned extensively on raising the national minimum wage to…

Update: Haiti prison breakout leaves 25 dead as 400 escape – official

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 400 prisoners were on the run in Haiti after they escaped from jail in a violent breakout that left 25 people dead, including the prison director, officials said. Media photographs showed at least three dead bodies lying outside the prison on Thursday and…

Covid-19: Slovenia confirms first case of South Africa variant

Minister of Health Janez Poklukar LJUBLJANA, Feb 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — Slovenia has detected its first case of the coronavirus variant initially discovered in South Africa, Health Minister Janez Poklukar said. Poklukar told a news conference that the person from the area of Maribor in the northeast of the country has…

Covid-19: Argentina receives first batch of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines

Argentina received the first batch of vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm on Thursday night BUENOS AIRES, Feb 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — Argentina received its first batch of vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm on Thursday night. Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers Santiago Cafiero was on hand to receive the…