Update: Nigerian state closes boarding schools after students’ abduction

ABUJA, Feb 27 (NNN-XINHUA) – Nigerian authorities orderedthe closure of all boarding schools in the northwestern state of Zamfaraafter the abduction of 317 girl students by gunmen in the state. Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, said in a broadcast that the move was to prevent activities of militants against students.…

Covid-19: Brazil states tighten restrictions as virus rages

BRASILIA, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian cities and states have beenimposing a new round of restrictions in a bid to contain a surge of Covid-19cases threatening to overwhelm their already stretched hospitals. Brazil, whose death toll passed 250,000 Thursday, is struggling to dealwith a rising tide of infections that has…

More than 150 illegal migrants rescued off Libyan coast

TRIPOLI, Feb 27 (NNN-XINHUA) — The International Organization forMigration (IOM) said that more than 150 illegal migrants have beenrescued off the Libyan coast. “Over 150 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya Friday by thecoast guard,” the IOM said on Twitter. Due to the state of insecurity and chaos in…

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…