Central African Republic declares emergency as rebels surround capital Bangui: UN

Rwandan troops are among a contingent of UN peacekeepers deployed to support the government  BANGUI, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The Central African Republic (CAR) has declared a state of emergency as the army and UN forces try to repel advancing rebel groups who want to overthrow the government. The anti-government fighters, who now…

Covid-19: EU vaccine woes mount as new delays emerge

BRUSSELS, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —A second coronavirus vaccine manufacturer has warned of supply issues to the European Union, compounding frustration in the bloc. AstraZeneca said a production problem meant the number of initial doses available would be lower than expected. The fresh blow comes after some nations’ inoculation programmes were slowed due…

Covid-19: WHO says fabric facemasks still work against virus variants

GENEVA, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization said it had no plans to change its guidance recommending fabric facemasks as new coronavirus variants spread, because the mutated strains are transmitted in the same way. Germany and Austria have made medical masks mandatory on public transport and in shops…

Covid-19: Belarus reports 1,748 new cases, total reaches 235,859

MINSK, Jan 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Belarus reported 1,748 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking its total to 235,859, according to the country’s health ministry. There have been 2,081 new recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 220,912, the ministry added. So far, 1,639 people have died of…

Ugandan peacekeepers kill 189 militants in SW Somalia

KAMPALA, Jan 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ugandan peacekeepers killed 189 al-Shabaab militants and arrested two senior commanders in an offensive in the volatile Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on Friday. Lt Col Deo Akiiki, Uganda’s deputy military spokesperson in a statement issued here said Uganda’s contingent of African Union Mission in Somalia…

Covid-19: Uruguay acquired Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines; ongoing negotiation for other vaccines

MONTEVIDEO, Jan 23 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou announced that a deal for the purchase of Pfizer/BioNTech and China’s Sinovac anti Covid-19 vaccines has been reached. “The government has just finished an agreement with Pfizer and Sinovac for the supply of vaccines to our country. At the same…

Andres Arauz favorite to become Ecuador’s next president: survey poll

QUITO, Jan 23 (NNN-TELESUR) — Ecuador’s leftist candidate Andres Arauz is the favorite to win the upcoming Feb 7 election, according to a survey by Comunicaliza polling company. According to the poll, 49.4 percent of Ecuadorian voters have already decided their intention to vote. Twenty-three percent of them assured they…

Covid-19: The Brazilian strain reported in Peru

LIMA, Jan 23 (NNN-TELESUR) — Peru’s Regional Health Director Carlos Calampa reported the identification of suspected cases of the COVID-19 strain originated in Manaos (Brazil). The new strain is independent of those recorded in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Calampa pointed out that there were no doubts in terms…

ECLAC: Latam’s foreign trade at its worse, women hardest it

SANTIAGO, Jan 23 (NNN-TELESUR) — The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) reported that the region’s foreign trade experienced in 2020 its lowest performance since the economic crisis of 2008-2009. The UN agency estimates that exports decreased by 13 percent, and imports fell by 20 percent amid the…

Covid-19: Argentina extends ban on layoffs for another 90 days

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 23 (NNN-TELESUR) — The Argentine government will extend for another 90 days a ban that prohibits layoffs and establishes the payment of a double compensation if a contract is ended for 2021. The measure aims at preventing private companies from dismissing staff under the pretext of low…