Covid-19: Algeria to start vaccinations in January

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ALGIERS, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algeria will launch COVID-19 vaccinations in January, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said, although the North African nation has not yet selected which vaccine it will deploy.Tebboune, who is recovering from COVID-19 in Germany, where he was hospitalised on Oct 28, made the announcement on Twitter.He said he…

Cattle rustling in South Sudan: 4 rustlers among 5 died in Tonj North raid

JUBA, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A cattle raid in Tonj North County of South Sudan’s Warrap State left five people dead and three others wounded, a local official said, amid fears of renewed clashes.While political violence has largely subsided in South Sudan since the signing of a peace agreement in…

Covid-19: Morocco announces three-week curfew

RABAT, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Moroccan government announced a nationwide curfew and other restrictive measures Monday, as it seeks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The curfew will be in place between the hours of 9:00 pm (2000 GMT) and 6:00 am and the new measures —…

Canada announces aid for Palestinian refugee agency

MONTREAL, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada announced it will provide some US$70 million in financing to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which has been reeling from US funding cuts. The aid amounting to CAN$90 million will be distributed over three years and comes after the agency’s chief warned last…

Mali seizes $8.5 million of gold hidden in car

BAMAKO, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Customs officers in southern Mali have seized estimated to be worth seven million euros ($8.5 million) was hidden in a car, officials said. The 143 kilograms (315 pounds) of gold was en route to neighbouring Guinea. Mali’s borders are porous and seizures of gold are…

Update: New coronavirus variant not out of control, can be contained, says WHO

GENEVA, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain with a higher transmission rate is not yet out of control and can be contained using existing measures, the World Health Organization said. “We have had a much higher (contamination rate) at different points in this pandemic and…

Covid-19: US Pres-elect Biden receives vaccine live on TV as the country’s cases surpass 18 million

NEWARK (Delaware, US), Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President-elect Joe Biden received a Covid-19 vaccine live on television in a campaign to boost Americans’ confidence in the jabs. The 78-year-old incoming president got the Pfizer vaccine at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware on Monday. His wife Jill received the…

Nigeria kidnapping: Mahuta children rescued after gun battle

Armed gunmen kidnapped dozens and raided cattle in Katsina state ABUJA, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian police say they have rescued at least 84 schoolchildren who were abducted on Saturday, second kidnapping in the Katsina state within eight days. They say the children were seized by gunmen as they returned home to Mahuta village after…

Central African Republic situation ‘under control’ after coup fears: UN force

Touadera is touted as the likely winner in the presidential election, but his government only controls a third of CAR territory BANGUI, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Central African Republic said that Russia and Rwanda had sent in hundreds of troops after an alleged attempted coup ahead of last weekend…

Covid-19: Latest global developments

PARIS, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Here are some of the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: INFECTIONS/DEATH: At least 1,693,576 people have died since the outbreak emerged in China last December. The US is the worst-hit country with 317,684 deaths, followed by Brazil with 186,764 fatalities, India with 145,810, Mexico…