South Africa to vaccinate athletes ahead of Tokyo Olympic games

Olympic champion and 400m world record-holder Wayde van Niekerk will be one of the stars of South Africa’s delegation heading to Tokyo PRETORIA, May 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African athletes due to participate in this year’s Tokyo Olympics will receive COVID-19 shots during a vaccination rollout that has so far…

Oxfam urges Biden to normalise ties with Cuba

HAVANA, May 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Global charity Oxfam urged US President Joe Biden to work towards normalising ties with Cuba and lift sanctions, as the communist nation battles its worst economic crisis in 30 years. Unveiling a report entitled “Right to Live without a Blockade”, it said the sanctions imposed by…

Covid-19: Brazil’s death toll surpasses 450,000

BRASILIA, May 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s Covid-19 death toll surpassed 450,000 on Tuesday, as delays plague the hard-hit country’s vaccine rollout and epidemiologists warned a brutal new surge of the virus could be coming. The health ministry reported 2,173 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the official number of…

Two killed in grenade explosions in Burundi’s commercial capital; 1 terrorist arrested

BUJUMBURA, May 26 (NNN-Xinhua) — Two people were killed and several others were injured in grenades explosions that happened on Tuesday evening in Burundi’s commercial capital Bujumbura, the Burundian security ministry said. “One person died on the spot and another one died after being evacuated in a health facility due…

Update: Series of earthquakes on DRC-Rwanda border stoke fears of second Nyiragongo volcano eruption

Residents pick up the remains of their destroyed homes from the smouldering lava deposited by the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo volcano near Goma KINSHASA, May 26 (NNN-Xinhua) — A series of earthquakes on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have stoked fears that the…

Chile unveils new submarine cable to boost connectivity of Pacific coast countries in LatAm

Submarine cables across Latin America SANTIAGO, May 26 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chile’s telecommunications ministry announced the installation of a new submarine cable to boost connectivity among Latin America’s Pacific coast countries, with mooring points in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Guatemala. Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Gloria Hutt, visiting the northern Arica and…

Covid-19: Indian variant found in at least 60 territories – WHO

GENEVA, May 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus variant first detected in India has now been officially recorded in 53 territories, a World Health Organization report showed Wednesday. Additionally, the WHO has received information from unofficial sources that the B.1.617 variant has been found in seven other territories, figures in the…

US racism: Pres Biden hails ‘extraordinary courage’ of George Floyd family

WASHINGTON, May 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden praised the bravery of George Floyd’s family on Tuesday, a year to the day since the African American man was killed by a police officer during an arrest, sparking nationwide protests. “The Floyd family has shown extraordinary courage, especially his young daughter…

Update1: UN Security Council to hold emergency Mali meeting Wednesday

UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting on Mali behind closed doors on Wednesday at 1900 GM, diplomats said, after the country’s military pushed out its transitional leaders. The session was requested by France, Niger, Tunisia, Kenya and Saint Vincent…

Covid-19: Half of US adults fully vaccinated – White House

WASHINGTON, May 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Half of all US adults have now received full Covid-19 vaccines, the White House said, marking another huge milestone in the fight against the pandemic. “Now 50% of all American adults are fully vaccinated,” tweeted Cyrus Shahpar, Covid-19 data director for the White House. That…