Algeria to start local production of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines

Algeria has already received 50,000 doses of Sputnik V from Russia ALGIERS, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algeria will start producing Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in September in partnership with Moscow, and part of the production will be intended for African countries, the pharmaceutical industry minister said.The North African country,…

British PM condemns latest Northern Ireland violence

LONDON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s prime minister has condemned another night of violence in Northern Ireland, after crowds threw petrol bombs and a bus was set on fire in Belfast. The violence follows a week of rioting which some have suggested is the first evidence Brexit turbulence may be…

Nigeria to limit first doses of AstraZeneca due to supply concerns

A medical worker injects the AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to a woman at the National Hospital in Abuja ABUJA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria has directed its 36 states and federal capital territory to stop giving first doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines once they use half their current stock in order…

Covid-19: UK variant is now most common strain in United States – CDC

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The highly contagious variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the United Kingdom has become the most common strain of the virus in the United States as cases continue to climb, a top US health official said. The strain, known as B117, was identified in Britain last fall and has…

Brazil: Pres Bolsonaro asks military about troops to quell possible unrest

Passengers travel on a crowded public bus past a banner against Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro and his policies on the COVID-19 pandemic, in Rio de Janeiro on April 6, 2021. The banner reads “Bolsonaro your government is genocidal” BRASILIA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that he had asked the…

Toll in Sudan clashes rises to 87 dead: Darfur medics

Smoke rises from Abu Zar camp for displaced persons in West Darfur, Sudan, on Tuesday, April 6 KHARTOUM, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five days of fighting in Sudan’s West Darfur region has left at least 87 people dead, medics said, with thousands fleeing the latest outbreak of violence. “The committee has…

White House says US not discussing boycott of Beijing Olympics

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US is not discussing a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to alleged human rights abuses, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “Our position on the 2022 Olympics has not changed. We have not discussed and are not discussing any joint…

US pledges Iraq troop withdrawal but without timeline

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States committed to move all remaining combat forces from Iraq, although the two sides did not set a timeline in what would be the second withdrawal since the 2003 invasion. The first “strategic dialogue” with Iraq under US President Joe Biden’s administration comes…

Covid-19: Poland extends partial lockdown as health care system pushed to limits

WARSAW, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Poland will extend its partial lockdown until April 18, as the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is stretching the health care system to its limit, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said. The partial lockdown was set to expire on April 10 under the original plan.…

Covid-19: Chile puts off landmark elections over coronavirus concerns

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera SANTIAGO, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera announced that the landmark elections on this weekend for councillors, mayors and, for the first time ever, regional governors and members of a constituent assembly to draft a new Constitution, will be postponed until May 15-16 due…