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Africa’s Lowest Vaccination Coverage at 2% Unacceptable, WHO tells G20

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World Health Organisation (WHO), Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, says Africa with the lowest vaccination coverage at two per cent is unacceptable, calling G20 Health Ministers to support regional vaccine manufacturing.

Ghebreyesus told the G20 health ministers meeting in Rome that almost 75 per cent of those doses have been administered in just 10 countries, while Africa had the lowest vaccination coverage at two per cent.

The director-general pointed out that: “Many countries continued to face steep increases in cases and deaths” – despite that more than five billion vaccines had been administered globally.

According to him, WHO’s global targets are to support every country to vaccinate at least 10 per cent of its population by the end of September, at least 40 per cent by the end of the year, and 70 per cent by the middle of next year.

“We can still reach these targets, but only with the commitment and support of G20 countries,’’ he averred.

As the largest producers, consumers and donors of COVID-19 vaccines, he upheld that they hold the key to achieving vaccine equity and ending the pandemic.

“We can never allow a pandemic on this scale to happen again. And we can never allow an injustice like this to happen again,” the WHO chief added.

The WHO boss stated that global responses to the pandemic must be grounded in certain core principles.

He outlined; “they must have the engagement and ownership of all countries; be multisectoral, involving partners from across the One Health spectrum.

” They must also be linked to and aligned with WHO’s mandate; and ensure coherence with the International Health Regulations and other international instruments.

“And they must be accountable and transparent,” underlined the UN official.

Against this backdrop, the WHO chief spoke of four critical areas for action, beginning with better global governance.

“An international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response will strengthen the foundation for global cooperation, setting the rules of the game, and enhancing solidarity among nations,” he said.

The second point, he noted, was more and better financing for national and global preparedness and responses.

“Financing facilities must be built using existing financial institutions, rather than creating new ones that further fragment the global health architecture,” Ghebreyesus  asserted.

He added that WHO had already taken steps toward better systems and tools across the One Health spectrum, his third action.

He noted, ” the need for a “strengthened, empowered and sustainably financed WHO to fully realise the Organization’s broad mandate.

“Redressing this imbalance is critical if WHO is to be the independent and authoritative institution the world needs it to be.’’

In addition, the WHO chief urged the G20 health ministers to swap near-term delivery schedules with COVAX by fulfilling dose-sharing pledges and sharing technology, know-how and intellectual property to support regional vaccine manufacturing.

He also requested that they support the development and adoption of a legally binding international agreement on pandemic preparedness and response.

“They should also strengthen WHO by backing initiatives that strengthen, not weaken, its mandate,” he urged. (NAN)

Foreign News

China to Eliminate Tariffs on Imports from African Countries

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 China has announced the full removal of tariffs on imports from all African countries, ENA, a partner of TV BRICS, has reported.

The tariff elimination falls under the new China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development, a framework designed to accelerate Africa’s integration into global trade by increasing market access, improving customs procedures, and strengthening institutional trade capacity.

The initiative is part of a broader effort by Beijing to support industrialisation, diversify imports, and reinforce economic links with African states beyond raw materials.

President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s readiness to welcome all African exports under zero-tariff treatment.

He emphasised that the new arrangement would be accompanied by enhanced cooperation in customs, quarantine, logistics, and capacity building.

China also pledged to support training programmes and expand the visibility of high-quality African goods in the Chinese market.

In 2024, China–Africa trade reached nearly 300 billion dollars, consolidating China’s position as Africa’s largest trading partner.

Observers note that the new tariff policy may further strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area by encouraging intra-African production and export diversification.

The strategic shift is expected to unlock new opportunities for value-added goods and services from across the continent, reinforcing Africa’s role in global supply chains. (TV BRICS/NAN) 

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CRIME

Man in Germany Charged with Serial Rape After Drugging Victims

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Court Sentences Applicant to 6 Months in Prison for Stealing Cell Phone
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 German prosecutors on Tuesday have charged a 43-year-old Chinese national with 22 offences, including attempted murder and aggravated rape after drugging victims, in some cases involving women he knew.

The accused, who was not identified, is suspected of sedating women with sleeping pills and raping them in eight cases.

Prosecutors in Frankfurt said some victims knew the defendant and were unaware of what was happening.

In four cases, the man is suspected of overpowering, anaesthetising and raping the victims during property viewings and of videoing or photographing the acts.

In seven cases, the drug dose was so high it may have endangered victims’ lives, prosecutors said in a statement.

The accused is alleged to have been a member of the Telegram online platform for several years, where he exchanged information about how to sexually assault unconscious women.

He is also believed to have illegally sold sedatives to other chat participants, prosecutors said.

The man from Offenbach, near Frankfurt, is believed to have committed the offences between January 2020 and November 2024, and has been in custody since November 2024, prosecutors said.

The charges follow the high-profile case of Dominique Pelicot in France, convicted in December of repeatedly drugging and raping his wife for almost a decade and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her unconscious body. (Reuters/NAN) 

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Foreign News

Man Bites Off Part of Another Man’s Ear On Train

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A fight on a German train saw a man bite off a piece of another man’s ear, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred on a Deutsche Bahn train between the south-western cities of Mannheim and Stuttgart.

An argument broke out after an unknown man accused a 43-year-old man of looking at his partner.

The former bit the ear of the 43-year-old, who retaliated by biting the man’s finger.

According to police, the unidentified man and his companion were able to leave the train at the central station in Stuttgart and fled.

Police said that they are searching for the man’s identity.

The 43-year-old was taken to the  hospital, where the piece of his ear was sewn back on.

(dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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