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…

Mexico to replace Columbus statue with indigenous woman

 MEXICO CITY, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A statue of Christopher Columbus in the heart of Mexico City will be replaced by one of an indigenous woman, authorities said, days before the country’s 200th independenceanniversary.   The figure of the Italian navigator, which was removed from Reforma Avenue last year as…

US probing nearly 350 reports of oil spills in wake of Hurricane Ida

A satellite image shows an oil slick following Hurricane Ida, south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana HOUSTON, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States Coast Guard said it was investigating nearly 350 reports of oil spills in and along the US Gulf of Mexico in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Ida’s 240 kmh…

El Salvador leads the world into cryptocurrency: bitcoin legal tender

The Central American nation is the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender SAN SALVADOR, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — El Salvador on Tuesday became the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender, a real-world experiment proponents say will lower commission costs for…

Covid-19: Chilean health regulator approves CoronaVac use among children over age 6

SANTIAGO, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Chilean health regulator approved the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China’s Sinovac Biotech for use in children over 6 years of age, allowing more people to be included in the country’s rapid inoculation campaign. The South American country has already approved the use of the…