Russia launches new batch of UK telecom satellites into space

MOSCOW, April 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East on Monday carrying 36 UK telecommunications and internet satellites, the Roscosmos space agency said. OneWeb, a London-headquartered company, is working to complete the construction of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites…

Insurgents kill 31 soldiers in NE Nigeria: military sources

KANO (Nigeria), April 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 31 Nigerian soldiers were killed when Daesh-aligned insurgents ambushed a military convoy escorting weapons and overran a base in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, military sources said Monday. Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), arriving in around 20 vehicles, attacked…

Covid-19: South Africa to resume Johnson & Johnson vaccinate rollout

PRETORIA, April 26 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa will resume the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine rollout on Wednesday in a push to vaccinate 500,000 healthcare workers through the Sisonke Programme. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, this move comes after the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) recommendation…

Germany will send oxygen, medical aid to India to help in COVID-19 crisis

German foreign minister Heiko Mass BERLIN April 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany will send oxygen and medical aid to India in the coming days to help it tackle its COVID-19 crisis, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. India is suffering from a spike in coronavirus infections, with the number of cases surging…

Chad’s transitional govt says won’t negotiate with regrouping rebels

N’DJAMENA, April 26 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Chad’s new military transitional government said it will not negotiate with the rebels blamed for killing the country’s president Idriss Deby. In a televised statement, the military spokesman, Gen. Azem Bermandoa Agouma, said the rebels were seeking to collaborate with “several groups of jihadists and…

Covid-19: Over 9,000 homeless Peruvians set up camp on the outskirts of Lima

LIMA, April 26 (NNN-TELESUR) — Thousands of Peruvians have set up a temporary camp on the outskirts of Lima after losing their homes due to the economic crisis generated by COVID-19. Government officials have unsuccessfully tried to persuade occupants to leave. They refuse, not having anywhere else to go, their leaders say.…

Covid-19: Paraguay takes starker approach with further restrictions

ASUNCION, April 26 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The government of Paraguay decided to impose tighter restrictions effective April 27 through May 10 in an attempt to slow down the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which is reportedly reaching unprecedented records. Through the signing of Decree 5160 Saturday, President Mario Abdo Benítez enacted…

Libya PM trip to country’s east postponed after security team turned back

BENGHAZI (Libya), April 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Libyan government postponed the prime minister’s first visit to the east of the country late Sunday, hours after an advance security team was turned back from Benghazi airport. A cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday in the city would also have marked national unity…

Covid-19: UK unveils vaccine publicity blitz aimed at under-50s

LONDON, April 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK government launches a new campaign Monday urging under-50s to get vaccinated against coronavirus, as it shifts to the second stage of its so far successful jabs drive. The health ministry said the TV, radio, social media and billboard campaign — branded “every vaccination…

Covid-19: Italian govt unveils post-Covid recovery plan

ROME, April 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s government unveiled a 222-billion-euro post-Covid recovery plan Sunday — most of which would be financed by a special EU fund — a day before presenting it to parliament. The EU coronavirus recovery fund will cover 191.5 billion euros of the total budget. Italy, the…