US shootings: 2 FBI agents dead, 3 wounded during raid over child exploitation case; shooter still holed up inside

Law enforcement officers investigate the scene of the raid — an apartment complex in Sunrise, Florida SUNRISE (Florida, US), Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two FBI agents were killed and another three were wounded during an early-morning raid at a Sunrise, Florida home as they were executing a court-ordered search warrant.…

Covid-19: Mexico authorizes Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine

MEXICO CITY, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico approved Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine for emergency use in the country, one of the worst hit by the pandemic, following the release of positive trial results. The move is a boost to the Latin American nation’s efforts to keep its immunization program…

Mexico urges halt to artefact auction in France

MEXICO CITY, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico called on auction house Christie’s to cancel the planned sale of around 30 pre-Hispanic artefacts in France next week, challenging the authenticity of several items. “The archaeological assets of our country are the property of the nation,” said Diego Prieto, director of the…

Trial over French hiker’s murder to open in Algeria; 14 faces various charges

ALGIERS, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The trial over the murder of a French mountaineer opens in Algeria this week, more than six years after he was beheaded by Daesh group-linked militants during a hiking trip. Herve Gourdel, 55, was abducted on Sept 21, 2014 while hiking in Djurdjura National Park,…

‘Angel Gabriel’ goes on trial in Finland over Liberia war crimes

TAMPERE (Finland), Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The trial of a suspected warlord accused of atrocities during Liberia’s civil war begins in Finland on Wednesday, the first such case to be partly heard on Liberian soil. Gibril Massaquoi, a Sierra Leonean living in Finland since 2008, is accused of murder, aggravated…

Covid-19: Europe warms to Russian jab after positive trial results

PARIS, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Final-stage trial results published on Tuesday placed Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on a par with its Western rivals, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced openness to its use in the European Union once it receives the regulatory nod. Sputnik V, which has already been…

Nigerians in Maiduguri without power for a week after militants attack

The violence has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon MAIDUGURI (Borno, Nigeria), Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Locals in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri have been without power for a week after insurgents blew up supply lines from the national electricity grid.It has caused water shortages disruptions to daily life…

Covid-19: South Africa to receive 2 million vaccines by March

South Africa to receive its first shipments of coronavirus vaccine by March PRETORIA, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that his country had secured a total of 12 million doses of coronavirus vaccines through the international COVAX program.Approximately 2 million of those doses were expected to…

Covid-19: ‘Cautious’ Tanzania has no plans for vaccines – Health Minister

President John Magufuli says the country is virus-free DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At a time some African countries have started coronavirus vaccinations and others are awaiting the delivery of vaccine consignments, Tanzania says it had no plans of importing vaccines.Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima said the government, for…

Gabon’s ruling party wins majority seats in Senatorial election

Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba LIBREVILLE, Feb 3 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The party of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba has won an overwhelming majority in the first round of Saturday’s senatorial elections, taking 45 of the 52 seats at stake, said the official body in charge of the poll.Five opposition or…