Tunisia Set to Receive First COVID-19 Jabs

A dose of Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine (REUTERS)
A dose of Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine (REUTERS)
TT
20

Tunisia Set to Receive First COVID-19 Jabs

A dose of Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine (REUTERS)
A dose of Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine (REUTERS)

Mass inoculation in Tunisia starts on Tuesday when the first coronavirus vaccines arrive in the North African nation using Russia's Sputnik V jabs.

Initially 30,000 doses are due to arrive Tuesday from Russia, followed by 500,000 doses "in coming weeks" said a presidency statement citing "constant diplomatic efforts" to procure them.

Being amongst the last North African nations to start vaccinations, Tunisia has some 11.7 million inhabitants and has recorded 237,704 Covid-19 cases including 8,201 deaths since the pandemic began.

The government had previously announced it was expecting an initial 94,000 doses of Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca/Oxford jabs from mid-February, but delivery under the UN-led Covax scheme was delayed. Beijing last month also pledged to gift 100,000 doses.

A vaccination campaign is expected to begin in coming days.

Lockdown measures remain in place, although rules have been eased slightly, with an overnight curfew now starting at 10:00 pm instead of 8:00 pm.

For travelers, mandatory quarantine at a hotel has been replaced by self-isolation at home for 48 hours.



Houthis threaten US Ships If Washington Joins Strikes on Iran

A Houthi supporter holds a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on a street in Sanaa, Yemen, 20 June 2024. (EPA)
A Houthi supporter holds a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on a street in Sanaa, Yemen, 20 June 2024. (EPA)
TT
20

Houthis threaten US Ships If Washington Joins Strikes on Iran

A Houthi supporter holds a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on a street in Sanaa, Yemen, 20 June 2024. (EPA)
A Houthi supporter holds a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on a street in Sanaa, Yemen, 20 June 2024. (EPA)

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militias will target US ships in the Red Sea if Washington becomes involved in Israeli attacks on Iran, the militants’ military spokesperson said on Saturday.

In May, the US and the Houthis agreed to a ceasefire under which neither side would target the other.