Covid-19: Africa death toll tops 200,000

BRAZZAVILLE, Sept 9 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — More than 200,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Africa since the start of the pandemic, according to official records. The 54 countries of the region may not have suffered as badly as other parts of the world at least according to the officially recorded figures. They…

Ballot counting under way in Morocco vote overshadowed by widespread apathy

Sitting Prime Minister Saad Eddine el-Othmani of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) casting his vote RABAT, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Moroccan voters have headed to the polls to choose a new parliament and local leaders in elections that have been reshaped by the pandemic, amid widespread disillusionment with the…

Normalcy returns to coup-hit Conakry in Guinea; junta frees political prisoners

Guinea citizens jubilate over replacements CONAKRY, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Days after Sunday’s coup that overthrew President Alpha Conde, Guineans in the capital were trying to get back to their normal lives. Customers and sellers packed a market in Conakry, where one of the main topics of conversation was the…

Meningitis epidemic in DR Congo kills 129, WHO says

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti BRAZZAVILLE (Republic of Congo), Sept 9 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — An epidemic of meningitis has been declared in northeastern DR Congo, where 129 people have died, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.A total of 261 suspected cases have been recorded so…

South Africa sets contentious local polls for Nov 1

PRETORIA, Sept 9 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — South Africa’s controversial local elections will be held on Nov 1, the government announced Wednesday, setting the ball rolling for polls expected to reflect widespread disillusionment with the long-ruling African National Congress.The vote for municipal representatives initially set for Oct 27 will take place in…

Covid-19: Vaccinate or resign – Zimbabwe tells government workers

A military health personnel carries an empty medical cooler box at a mobile clinic HARARE, Sept 19 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Zimbabwe has told its civil servants unwilling to get vaccinated to resign, as it seeks to increase inoculations against COVID-19.The southern African country has already made it mandatory for people to get…

Covid-19: Argentina announces issuance of Digital Vaccination Credential as official travel document

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 7 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The Government of Argentina has announced that effective Monday Sept 6, nationals going abroad shall be able to produce the Digital Vaccination Credential (CVD), available through the Mi Argentina app, as an official travel document. Argentine authorities have also said the decision had been…

At least 23 dead after bus plunges off cliff in Bolivia

    LA PAZ, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 23 people, including three children, were killed after a bus plunged off a cliff in central Bolivia, police and witnesses said.     The bus, carrying 33 people, plummeted 400 meters down a cliff in Cochabamba state at around 11 am Monday.…

Texas abortion clinics will be protected, US Justice Department says

An activist protests against the new Texas abortion law outside the Supreme Court in Washington DC  WASHINGTON, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Justice Department says it will protect clinics that perform abortions in Texas, a state with a near-total ban on voluntary pregnancy terminations. The department said it would…

Covid-19: Peruvian President reports of agreement on domestic production of Sputnik V

   LIMA, Sept 7 (NNN-TASS) — The Peruvian government has reached an agreement on setting up domestic production of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus, country’s President Pedro Castillo said.    “I announce that as a result of talks between the governments of Peru and Russia the agreement has…