Somalia: Gunfire erupts in capital as government forces shoot at protesters

MOGADISHU, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunfire and rockets exploded on Friday in Mogadishu as Somali government forces clashed with protesters angered by delayed elections, hours after fighters loyal to the government and to the political opposition exchanged gunfire.Video from an anti-government demonstration showed civilians in facemasks waving Somali flags scattering…

World Bank names former Senegal finance minister to head IFC

WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank announced that it has selected former Senegal finance minister Makhtar Diop to lead the agency responsible for private sector finance at a critical time for the global recovery. He would be the first African to lead the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which…

Algeria: Man sentenced to death over French tourist Hervé Gourdel’s killing

The 55-year-old’s body was only recovered after months of searching ALGIERS, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) —An Algerian court has sentenced a man to death over the kidnap and murder of a French mountaineer in 2014. Hervé Gourdel, 55, was abducted while exploring Djurdjura National Park in a case that sparked outrage. A graphic…

Burkina Faso: 8 killed in vehicle ambush

Burkina Faso has been fighting an insurgency that has killed hundreds OUAGADOUGOU, Feb 19 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least eight people were killed and nine others injured when the civilian transport vehicle they were traveling in was ambushed by unidentified gunmen in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso, an official statement…

Covid-19: Pres Biden pledges $4bn for global vaccine program as CDC projects 559,000 US deaths by March 13

WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden will pledge $4 billion in US aid to the Covax global Covid-19 vaccination program during his virtual meeting with other G7 leaders on Friday, White House officials said. An initial $2 billion will be released “by the end of this month,” with…

Update: US offers to meet Iran, reverses Trump steps in push to save nuclear deal

WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden’s administration offered talks with Iran led by European allies and reversed two largely symbolic steps against Tehran imposed by Donald Trump, as it sought to salvage a nuclear deal on the brink of collapse. Three days before Iran’s deadline to restrict…

Algeria’s president calls for dissolution of parliament, early elections

ALGIERS, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called for the dissolution of parliament and early legislative elections after expressing dissatisfaction with the government. In an address to the nation, Tebboune also said he will carry out a government reshuffle within 48 hours, and issued a pardon for dozens…

Covid-19: Venezuela kicks off vaccine program

CARACAS, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela started immunizing health care workers against the coronavirus Thursday with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, as the government said it intended to inoculate 70 percent of the population by year end. Glendys Rivero, a 37-year-old surgeon from Los Teques in the country’s north, was…

Covid-19: French Pres Macron suggests West sets aside 3-5% of vaccines for Africa

PARIS, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed that rich Western countries transfer 3-5 percent of their stock of Covid-19 vaccines to Africa. With developing countries struggling in the race to vaccinate their populations against the coronavirus, Macron argued that failure to share the vaccine would exacerbate…

Covid-19: Brazil passes 10 mn infections

BRASILIA, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil, the country with the second-highest coronavirus death toll, passed the 10-million mark for reported infections Thursday, amid a deadly second wave and problems with its vaccination campaign. The country became the third to reach the grim mark — after the United States and India…