Covid-19: Argentina’s death toll reached 50,327

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 16 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentina’s Health Ministry said 91 COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours have raised the country’s total death toll to 50,327. According to the ministry, tests have detected 3,259 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the nationwide count to 2,029,057. As the two-day Carnival holiday began…

Sierra Leone loses case against US-linked mining firm in UK court

LONDON, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s High Court dismissed Sierra Leone’s challenge of a 2020 International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) decision over claims by SL Mining after a dispute over its iron ore mining operations in the country.The miner, a subsidiary of US commodity trader Gerald Group, filed for arbitration…

Update: Guinea Ebola death toll rises to five

Guinea govt is tracking down people who potentially had contact with Ebola victims CONAKRY, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five people have now died from Ebola in Guinea as the government launched an urgent contact-tracing search after the disease’s latest reappearance.Guinea announced the outbreak on Saturday – the first in West…

US vows to be ‘constructive partner’ for new WTO chief

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala selected as director-general by consensus ENEVA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US delegate to the World Trade Organization welcomed the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as director-general and said the United States was counting on her to jumpstart efforts to reform and revitalize the global trade body. “Dr Okonjo-Iweala has promised…

NATO will not leave Afghanistan before ‘time is right’

A US soldier keeps watch at an Afghan National Army base in Logar province BRUSSELS, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance will not withdraw its troops from Afghanistan “before the time is right”, ahead of a discussion by defence ministers…

Cyprus to probe police force against protesters

A protester on the ground after she was sprayed with a water cannon during a rally against corruption and Covid-19 restriction measures in Nicosia. NICOSIA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cyprus green-lighted an independent investigation on Monday after police were accused of using excessive force against protesters, leaving one woman reportedly…

Covid-19: Vaccine shortage forces Rio to suspend jabs

An elderly woman gets a coronavirus vaccine shot in Rio de Janeiro, which will suspend vaccinations after running out of doses RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rio de Janeiro will suspend its COVID-19 vaccination campaign until next week because the Brazilian city has run out of doses, Mayor Eduardo…

Covid-19: Colombia receives first shots, vaccination may begin early

Military escorts stand outside the DHL warehouses where a batch of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is expected to be unloaded at El Dorado International Airport BOGOTA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia’s first COVID-19 vaccines – 50,000 doses from Pfizer – have arrived in the Andean country, President Ivan…

Kosovo election winner Kurti wants new tack in Serbia talks

Kurti will be under pressure from the West to reboot the EU-led dialogue with Serbia PRISTINA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — After a landslide win in Kosovo’s parliamentary elections, left-wing reformist Albin Kurti said he wants to reframe talks with Serbia to put the two sides on equal footing. The Balkan neighbours…

Ebola: Guinea tracking potential contacts, says it can overcome new outbreak

Guinea’s Minister of Health Remy Lamah CONAKRY, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guinea is tracking down people who potentially had contact with Ebola patients and will rush vaccines to the affected area as soon as possible following at least three deaths from the disease, Health Minister Remy Lamah said. Lamah said that…