World
New US Travel Rules Excludes Foreigners Vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V
By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Local and foreign media have stepped up reports about rising COVID-19 infections in Russia. While the reports indicated high deaths in the country, the other highlighted new trends that are noticeably appearing there.
Interestingly, directors at the Russian tourism and travel agencies say that many Russians are lining up for vaccine tourism in Serbia, Bulgaria and Germany and a few other foreign countries.
These Russians aim at getting foreign vaccines including Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca.
Here are a few facts about Russian vaccines.
Russia’s Sputnik V was the first officially registered coronavirus vaccine on August 11, 2020. Russia is using four vaccines for mass vaccination for COVID-19. These are Sputnik V and Sputnik Light developed by the Russian Health Ministry’s Gamaleya Center.
EpiVacCorona developed by the Vector Center of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), and CoviVac developed by the Chumakov Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Clinical trials of the EpiVacCorona vaccine on teens aged from 15 to 17 might begin in the near future.
China has a 1.3 billion population and has given the two billionth vaccine by the end of August, the United States has 380 million and has vaccinated 60% of its population. In Europe, the vaccination rate is high at an appreciable level.
Overall, Russia with an estimated 146 million people has Europe’s highest death toll from the pandemic, nearly 210,000 people as of September 30, according to various authentic sources including the National Coronavirus Task Force.
More than 42 million Russians have received both components of a coronavirus vaccine, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova.
“The number of citizens who have received the first component of a vaccine has topped 44 million, and more than 37 million people have completed a full vaccination course,” Golikova said.
She gave an assurance back in July that once the population have been immunized with at least the first component of a two-shot vaccine, herd immunity to COVID-19, or at least an 80% vaccination rate, should be reached by November 1.
Even though Russia boasted of creating the world’s first coronavirus vaccines, vaccination is very low. Critics have principally blamed a botched vaccine rollout and mixed messages the authorities have been sending about the outbreak.
In addition, coronavirus antibody tests are popular in Russia and some observers suggest this contributes to the low vaccination numbers.
Western health experts say the antibody tests are unreliable either for diagnosing COVID-19 or assessing immunity to it. The antibodies that these tests look for can only serve as evidence of a past infection. Scientists say it’s still unclear what level of antibodies indicates that a person has protection from the virus and for how long.
Russia has registered Sputnik V in more than 150 foreign countries. The World Health Organization is yet to register this vaccine. For its registration, it must necessarily pass through approved procedures, so far Russia has ignored them, according to reports.
There have also been several debates after the World Health Organization paused its review process of the Sputnik V vaccine over concerns about its manufacturing process, and few other technical reasons. While some talked about politicizing the vaccine registration, others have faced facts of observing recognized international rules for certifying medical products as such vaccines.
During the first week of October, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has reiterated or repeated assertively that a certain package of documents was needed to continue the process for the approval of the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V by the World Health Organization. The final approval is expected towards the end of 2021.
Still, one of the problems with registration is unfair competition in the global market. For instance, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel on October 5: “I think it is an element of competition. Until Pfizer covers a certain part of the market, it is pure economics.”
On the other side, Pyotr Ilyichev, Director for International Organization at the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, told Interfax News Agency, for instance, that World Health Organization has been playing politics around Russian vaccine especially when it is needed in most parts of the world.
“The world is facing an acute shortage of vaccines for the novel coronavirus infection. In certain regions, for instance in African countries, less than 2% of the population has been vaccinated. The Russian vaccine is in demand, and the UN stands ready to buy it,” he told Interfax.
“However, certification in the WHO is a complex, multi-step process, which was developed in the past in line with Western countries’ standards. It requires time and serious efforts from our producers. We hope that this process will be successfully finalized in the near future,” Ilyichev said.
Chairman of the State Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky has described as discriminatory a decision reported by foreign media that the United States, under its new consular rules, would deny entry for foreigners immunized with the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V.
“Thus, the U.S. will blatantly embark on a path of ‘vaccine discrimination.’ There are absolutely no grounds for such decisions. The efficacy and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine have been confirmed not only by specialists but also by its use in practice,” Slutsky said on Telegram.
He cited an article in The Washington Post saying that from November the United States may begin denying entry to foreigners vaccinated with Sputnik V.
It means that if such additional border measures are adopted, foreigners seeking entry to the United States will have to be immunized with vaccines approved for use either by American authorities or the World Health Organization.
According to an article published in The Washington Post, for the first time since the pandemic began, the United States intends to loosen entry restrictions for foreigners vaccinated against COVID-19.
The new rules, which enter into force in November, will not apply to Russians vaccinated with Sputnik V and citizens of other countries using this Russian vaccine.
Under the new rules, foreigners will enter the United States only if they are immunized with vaccines approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization. Russia’s Sputnik V is yet to be approved by the World Health Organization and is not recognized by the United States.
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Today, boosted by the Kremlin’s diplomatic push and support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Partnership, Russian companies are moving with multitude of development projects and corporate entrepreneurial investments into Africa. St. Petersburg summit has also charted the roadmap cum well-designed strategies for boosting the entire bilateral economic cooperation with the continent whose endowed resources include the huge human capital.
The geography of Russia-African economic cooperation is steadily expanding. As previously reported, the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry, since the beginning of 2025, approximately 150 Russian companies have moved into Africa. And with Africa, ready to engage in priority partnerships, the Russian registered company called A7 African Cargo Lines LLC (A7 ACL, Moscow) has started its logistics and shipping services to West Africa. According to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, A7 African Cargo Lines LLC (A7 ACL, Moscow), was registered on April 17, and has its primary activity listed as railway freight transportation.
“We intend to operate in West Africa,” the Board Chairman Andrei Severilov, told Interfax regarding the company’s establishment. “At the first stage, with the assistance of the Russian trade mission in Nigeria, we are implementing a project to establish a direct shipping line,” Severilov said. According to the news report, the launch of a maritime route between Novorossiysk and Nigeria’s port of Lagos is planned for mid-June, with two container ships chartered for the line’s inauguration, each with a capacity of 700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). Future plans also include establishing maritime connections with Senegal (Dakar port).
Severilov previously owned a 23.8% stake in PJSC Far Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO, the parent company of FESCO Transportation Group). In September 2024, Severilov announced his intention to re-enter the transportation business and established the asset management company A7 African Cargo Lines LLC (A7 ACL, Moscow), with a focus on Africa and primarily targeting to get substantive returns, in terms of, profits. It’s unique decision to take up logistics connecting Africa’s transport market is poised for significant trade growth, by transporting goods across the region and for exports to Europe.
By building a new shipping line that would connect the West Africa, first through Nigeria promises raising trade. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and its largest economy. Nigeria is a key member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is fostering intra-African trade and economic integration. In addition to above factors, Russian companies are showing increased interest in Nigeria, for example in reviving the countries largest steel plant. There is also interest in investing in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Undoubtedly, establishing A7 African Cargo Lines LLC (A7 ACL, Moscow) could be an explicit opportunity for promoting trade by its logistics infrastructure. Reports indicate that Russia’s exports to Nigeria currently amount to about $1.51 billion, mainly consisting of refined petroleum, wheat, and malt, while Nigeria exports a small amount to Russia, primarily cut flowers, other oily seeds, and nuts.
Further to that, the overall Africa’s trade statistics at the end 2024, soared to a record of $24.5 billion from the previous figure, approximate $20 billion that came up during the special panel discussions in 2023 when the second Russia-Africa summit was held in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in the Russian Federation.
By the next Russia-Africa summit slated for 2026, with high anticipation of more Russian enterprises dominating the African landscape, in spite of the existing complexities and challenges would extend or broaden the sphere of economic influence in the context of geopolitical power shifts being capitulated by the Western powers and President Donald Trump of the United States.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The leadership of the Catholic church should announce a successor to the late Pope Francis on May 7.
A new Pope will be elected via a conclave, which involves a secret voting system.
This was initially supposed to hold on May 5 but was delayed for two days to help the cardinal electors get to know one another better and find consensus on a candidate before they are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel.
The cardinals set the date after arriving for the first day of informal meetings following Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
The College of Cardinals that will elect a new pope includes members from far-flung corners of the globe whom Pope Francis named over his 12-year papacy to bring in new points of views of the Catholic Church hierarchy.
According to reports, 135 cardinal electors — 108 of whom were appointed by the late Pope Francis — don’t know each other very well.
The last 20 were appointed in early December.
Only cardinals under 80 are eligible to vote, and it is not clear how many of the 135 will participate.
Who Could Be The Next Pope?
Some candidates have emerged and Business Post has gathered from several sources of the possible candidates that could emerge as the new Pope.
Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, is recognized for his diplomatic skills and is viewed as a moderate who could continue Pope Francis’ policies, although his involvement in a €200 million investment scandal may affect his candidacy.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, also from Italy, serves as the Archbishop of Bologna and is known for his focus on inclusivity and social justice, aligning closely with Francis’ pastoral approach.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has demonstrated a commitment to interfaith dialogue and peace efforts in the Middle East, and his selection would make him the youngest pope since John Paul II.
From the Philippines, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is considered a rising star within the Church, known for his humility and compassionate outreach, particularly towards marginalized communities.
Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea is a prominent conservative voice, advocating for traditional Catholic teachings and liturgical practices, appealing to those seeking a return to doctrinal orthodoxy.
Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő is another leading conservative candidate, noted for his strong doctrinal stance and experience within the Church’s hierarchy.
Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius, the Bishop of Stockholm, is the first cardinal from Scandinavia and is known for his ecumenical efforts and commitment to dialogue within the Church.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an outspoken critic of liberal teachings within the Church, representing a conservative perspective from the Global South.
Dutch Cardinal Wim Eijk, a former medical doctor, is known for his conservative views, particularly on issues related to marriage and family, and his opposition to Pope Francis’ liberal approach.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Pope Francis has died at the age of 88 after battling illness in the last couple of months.
The Vatican announced his demise on Monday morning, a day after Easter.
The pontiff, who was Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 after his predecessor, Benedict XVI resigned.
His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement released by the Vatican.
He said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.
“At 7.35am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
The process for choosing a new pope – conclave – generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff.
Cardinals from around the world will gather in the Vatican and choose the new leader of the Catholic church.
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