Brussels, April 16 (IANS) European lawmakers have voted in favour of EU-UK trade deal with a recommendation that European Parliament gives its consent to the agreement. On Thursday, the Trade and Foreign Affairs Committees gave their seal of approval by 108 votes in favour, one against and four abstentions, and recommended that Parliament’s plenary approves […]

Brussels, April 16 (IANS) The European Union (EU) has called for “firm commitment and constructive engagement by all parties” in the peace talks in Afghanistan, after the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced the pullout of their troops from the country. European Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali told a press briefing on Thursday […]

Brussels, April 16 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has received her first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. “After we passed 100 million vaccinations in the EU, I’m very glad I got my first shot of Covid-19 vaccine today,” she said in a tweet on Thursday. “Vaccinations will further gather pace, as deliveries […]

Brussels, April 15 (IANS) The European Commission announced that it would borrow 800 billion euros from the capital market in current prices until 2026 to fund the European Union’s (EU) massive plan to bail out its Covid-stricken economy. A diversified funding strategy was created to ensure that the ember states of the bloc would receive […]

Brussels, April 15 (IANS) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies on Wednesday agreed to pull out all of their armed forces from Afghanistan after the United States announced that all US troops would leave the country by September 11. The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks, with other NATO members also deploying […]

Addis Ababa, April 14 (IANS) The death toll in the boat capsize off Djibouti coast has climbed to 42, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said. “At least 42 people have died after a boat operated by people smugglers, transporting approximately 60 migrants escaping conflict in Yemen, capsized on its way to Djibouti in the […]

Lome, April 14 (IANS) Incumbent President Patrice Talon has won reelection in the West African nation of Benin with 86.4 per cent of the votes, according to provisional results announced by the Electoral Commission. He was followed respectively by rivals Alassane Soumanou of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) party with 11.3 per […]

Brussels, April 13 (IANS) The European Union (EU) has strongly rejected any attempts to derail diplomatic efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal currently underway in Vienna. EU Foreign Affairs spokesman Peter Stano told an online press conference on Monday that the reported incident in Natanz “could have been an act of sabotage”, but insisted […]

Cairo, April 13 (IANS) Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) celebrated the recent arrival of a cutter suction dredger (CSD), the largest in the Middle East. “We celebrate together CSD Mohab Mameesh, the largest in the Middle East and Africa, joining the SCA’s fleet,” Xinhua news agency SCA Chairman Osama Rabie as saying during a ceremony […]

Cairo, April 13 (IANS) Egypt’s Public Prosecution has revealed that human errors and gross negligence by railway staff led to the deadly collision of two trains last month in Sohag province, which claimed the lives of 20 people. On March 26, a Spanish train crashed into the back of a standing one, leaving 20 people […]

Brussels, April 10 (IANS) The Council of the European Union (EU) approved an additional funding of 121.5 million euros ($144.6 million) from the bloc’s budget to address urgent needs related to the Covid-19 pandemic. In a statement issued on Friday, the EU Council said the additional funds will be used to prepare for digital green […]

Khartoum, April 10 (IANS) The death toll from the recent armed clashes in El Geneina, capital city of Sudan’s West Darfur State, has increased to 137, while the number of the injured stood at 221. “The committee counted a new toll of victims, bringing the number of those who were killed so far to 137 […]

Belfast, April 10 (IANS) About 19 officers were injured in the latest riot in Northern Ireland, bringing the number of hurt police to 74 during a week of violence across the region, local media reported. According to the BBC, water cannon was used by police in Belfast for the first time in six years as […]

Cairo, April 10 (IANS) The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced the arrival of a giant dredge, the largest in the Middle East, in te vital waterway. “After finishing all the naval experiments, the 48,000-tonne, 216.7-metre-long, 43-metre-wide dredge, which is dubbed Mohab Mamish, has joined the SCA fleet today,” Chairman of the SCA Osama Rabie said […]

Brussels, April 9 (IANS) The European Commission has strongly condemned the violence in Northern Ireland which erupted last week over a post-Brexit trading arrangement. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the acts of violence that have occurred in Northern Ireland over the past days. Nobody has anything to gain from this. We call on […]

Rabat, April 9 (IANS) Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita discussed bilateral ties and regional issues with his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian during a teleconference. The two Ministers on Thursday lauded the excellent relations between Rabat and Paris, and their will to consolidate this exceptional partnership, the official news agency MAP reported. […]

Khartoum, April 9 (IANS) West Darfur Governor Mohamed Abdalla Al Doma announced that 132 people were killed in the recent armed clashes in El Geneina, the conflict-hit Sudanese state’s capital city. “According to the medical reports, so far, the number of the people killed is 132,” Al Doma said at a press conference here on […]

Cairo, April 9 (IANS) An Egyptian court has sentenced Mahmoud Ezzat, the acting supreme guide of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, to life imprisonment, which is 25 years in the country. Ezzat, head of the Brotherhood’s International Organization, was charged with inciting the killing of innocent, possession of weapons, and terrorising citizens, reports Xinhua news […]

Cairo, April 9 (IANS) An Egyptian archaeological mission announced the discovery of a 3000-year-old “Lost Gold City” (LGC) in the monument-rich city of Luxor. The mission, headed by renowned Egyptian archeologist Zahi Hawass, in collaboration with the country’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, found the city that was lost under the sand, reports xinhua news agency. […]

Cairo, April 8 (IANS) An Egyptian top court has sentenced nine people to life imprisonment and acquitted 41 others over charges related to terrorism in Sohag province in 2015. On Wednesday, the Court of Cassation, whose rulings are final and unappealable, also sentenced a convict to 15 years in jail, three to 10 years and […]

Rabat, April 8 (IANS) Morocco has announced a night curfew during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in an effort to combat Covid-19 spread. A government statement issued on Wednesday said that a nationwide night curfew will be implemented from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting from the first day of Ramadan, reports Xinhua news […]

Khartoum, April 8 (IANS) Sudan’s Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Yasir Abbas said Khartoum is open to all options, including resorting to the UN Security Council, regarding the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river following the failure of the latest round of talks. “All options are open before Sudan, including resorting […]

Rabat, April 7 (IANS) Morocco has provided key intelligence about a planned attack on a church in France and helped the latter country stop to foil it, the Rabat-based General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) said. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DGST passed on information of a French woman of Moroccan origin on […]

Cairo, April 7 (IANS) The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said that traffic in the vital waterway remained unaffected despite a sudden break in a ship’s engine. “The SCA has swiftly tackled a sudden break in an engine of one of the passing ships, oil tanker M/T Rumford, through the canal,” Xinhua news agency quoted the […]

Khartoum, April 6 (IANS) Sudan reiterated the need to change the approach to negotiations regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river after 200 “ineffective” days of talks in the previous rounds. “The previous rounds, under the patronage of the African Union chaired by South Africa, were ineffective and wasted 200 days […]

Khartoum, April 6 (IANS) Sudan’s Security and Defence Council has declared a state of emergency in West Darfur state and authorised forces to adopt all necessary measures to end armed clashes which led to the killing of 18 people, while 54 others were injured. The declaration came after Chairman of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah […]

Brussels, April 5 (IANS) Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has assured the Ukrainian government of “unwavering support” in the conflict with pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country. “Talked to Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Following with severe concern the Russian military activity surrounding […]

Cairo, April 5 (IANS) The main hall of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Cairo, which contains 1,500 artefacts, has opened for visitors. On Saturday evening, Egyptian authorities moved 22 Pharaonic mummies from the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo to the NMEC in a festive, remarkable parade known as “The […]

Mogadishu, April 5 (IANS) The UN top envoy in Somalia on Sunday condemned Saturday’s foiled attacks against the Somali National Army (SNA) bases in Barire and Awdhigle towns in the southern region in which the army killed more than 115 militants. “We strongly condemn these attacks that targeted Somali forces. This is a vivid reminder […]

Addis Ababa, April 5 (IANS) The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) disclosed on Sunday that around 2.1 million people in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali regional state are in need of humanitarian assistance. In a bi-weekly humanitarian bulletin report, the UNOCHA disclosed 2.1 million drought-affected people in the Somali regional state need […]

Pretoria, April 4 (IANS) More than 50 South African nationals were reported missing after a terror attack in Mozambique last week, the Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans in Pretoria said. “South Africa is concerned about the security situation at Cabo Delgado in the northern part of Mozambique, and remains seized with the safety of […]

Juba, April 4 (IANS) The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement that 58 women and children who were abducted last year during inter-communal fighting in Jonglei state were finally being reunited with their families. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Mission said that the exchange of abducted women and children […]

Cairo, April 4 (IANS) The last group of ships stranded due to the blocking of the Suez Canal by the massive container vessel, Ever Given, since March 23, have crossed the vital waterway, an official said. In a statement, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie said the remaining 61 ships, in addition […]

Cairo, April 4 (IANS) Authorities have moved 22 Pharaonic mummies from the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in a festive parade known as “The Pharaoh’s Golden Parade”. The festivity started on Saturday evening with 22 ancient-styled vehicles especially designed for the event, each carrying […]

Brussels, April 2 (IANS) At least 26 police officers were injured while breaking up an illegal mass gathering in Brussels attended by over a thousand people in spite of coronavirus restrictions. The officers were injured during an operation on Thursday to disperse a large crowd that gathered in the Bois de la Cambre park on […]

Khartoum, April 2 (IANS) Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, has urged the African Union (AU) to support completion of the peace process in the country by bringing in the non-signatory groups. Al-Burhan issued the call on Thursday while meeting at the presidential palace with the visiting delegation of the AU Peace and […]

Monrovia, April 2 (IANS) Police in Liberia confirmed that a search operation was underway to located the 90 inmates who escaped from a prison in Maryland county. National Police spokesperson Moses Carter told reporters here on Thursday that the inmates escaped from the Harper Central correctional facility on Wednesday evening, reports Xinhua news agency. “We’re […]

Johannesburg, April 2 (IANS) With the Easter weekend approaching, a South African Minister warned that police would be deployed in the streets to deal with people not adhering to Covid-19 regulations, especially those regarding alcohol. Briefing the media on the updated regulations in Pretoria on Thursday, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said […]

Cairo, April 2 (IANS) Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said that it will seek over $1 billion in compensation for the losses caused by the massive container ship which had blocked the vital waterway since March 23. The compensation for the losses and damages “will reach over $1 billion dollars” Xinhua news agency reported citing […]

Dodoma, April 1 (IANS) Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced the appointment of new Finance Minister and Foreign Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle. Announcing the reshuffle shortly after the swearing-in of Vice President Philip Mpango at Chamwino State House in the capital Dodoma, Hassan on Wednesday appointed Mwigulu Nchemba as the Minister of Finance […]

Juba, April 1 (IANS) The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has blamed 78 per cent of killings and injuries to civilians in 2020 on community-based militias. A report released in Juba on Wednesday by the Human Rights Division of UNMISS documents the killing of 2,421 civilians by militias in 2020, more than double the […]

Khartoum, April 1 (IANS) The Sudanese government has warned of the danger of Ethiopia’s implementation of the second filling of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi and US Special Envoy to Sudan Donald Booth reviewed the development of the situations regarding the GERD […]

Brussels, March 30 (IANS) Twenty-five world leaders have supported a proposal from European Council President Charles Michel to draw up a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. Leaders including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed an opinion […]

Brussels, March 30 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned of the “domino effect” of the health crisis brought about by the raging Covid-19 pandemic. “We risk that the Covid crisis sets off a number of other crises, especially in developing countries,” she said while addressing a high-level meeting on international debt […]

Brussels, March 30 (IANS) The overall economic activity of the Eurozone decreased less than expected from October to December 2020 and the production rates are expected to recover before the middle of 2021, Italy’s National Statistics Institute (ISTAT) reported. The macro-economic situation in the Eurozone is “characterised by a high degree of uncertainty” due to […]

Brussels, March 30 (IANS) The Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council will visit Turkey on April 6, a spokesperson for the European Union (EU) announced. Taking to Twitter on Monday, the spokesman Barend Leyts said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel will hold talks […]

Khartoum, March 30 (IANS) The US and the European Union (EU) have expressed readiness to mediate in the issue of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River, Sudan’s Sovereign Council said in a statement. Donald Booth, the US special envoy to Sudan, and Robert van den Dool, head of the […]

Cairo, March 29 (IANS) A massive container ship which had blocked the Suez Canal since March 23 has been freed and re-floated, maritime service provider Inchcape Shipping said on Monday. The Panama-flagged ship, Ever Given, had veered off its course in a single-lane stretch of the canal during a sandstorm. “The MV Ever Given was […]

Cairo, March 29 (IANS) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed the controversial Ethiopian grand dam built on the Nile river, the recent developments in Libya, and counter-terrorism efforts. During a phone conversation on Sunday, the two leaders also discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in many fields, especially at the […]

Cairo, March 29 (IANS) A massive container ship which had blocked the Suez Canal since March 23 has been freed and re-floated, maritime service provider Inchcape Shipping said on Monday. The Panama-flagged ship, Ever Given, had veered off its course in a single-lane stretch of the canal during a sandstorm, reports dpa news agency. Dredgers […]

Cairo, March 28 (IANS) The death toll in a collapse of a residential building in the Egyptian capital of Cairo has increased to 23, the civil defence service said on Sunday. Twenty-five others were injured in the collapse of the 10-storey building in the district of Jisr al-Suez in eastern Cairo on Saturday, the service […]

Cairo, March 28 (IANS) Egypt’s Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs Hamdi Sanad Loza held talks with US special envoy for Sudan Donald Booth on efforts to resume negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River, the Foreign Ministry in Cairo said in a statement. During Saturday’s meeting, Loza stressed […]

Kampala, March 28 (IANS) Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni have received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines at State House in the capital, Kampala. “I encourage all Ugandans who qualify for this vaccination to go to health facilities and get it,” Xinhua news agency quoted the President as saying in […]

Cairo, March 28 (IANS) At least 321 vessels are currently jammed around Egypt’s Suez Canal as efforts are underway to refloat a giant cargo ship that has run aground and disrupted traffic on one of the world’s busiest trade routes, according to a top official. “The number of ships waiting now, whether in the north, […]

Cairo, March 27 (IANS) The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said that it welcomes cooperation with the US to refloat a giant cargo ship that has run aground and disrupted traffic on one of the world’s busiest trade routes. In a statement issued on Friday, the SCA also expressed gratitude for all the other offers of […]

Cairo, March 26 (IANS) At least 32 people were killed and 66 others wounded in Egypt’s southern province of Sohag when two trains collided on Friday, according to a government statement that feared the number might rise. The Egypt Health Ministry statement said at least 36 ambulances were sent to the scene and they transferred […]

Brussels, March 26 (IANS) European Union (EU) leaders have agreed to relaunch cooperation with Turkey in a “phased, proportionate and reversible” manner in the fields of trade and migration. They decided to launch high-level dialogues with Turkey on issues of mutual concern such as public health, climate, counter-terrorism, as well as regional issues, Xinhua news […]

Cairo, March 25 (IANS) Egypt on Thursday announced the full suspension of shipping in the Suez Canal, where efforts are underway to refloat a giant container ship that has run aground and disrupted traffic on one of the world’s busiest trade routes. The Panama-flagged ship, Ever Given, ran aground in the man-made canal on Tuesday […]

Johannesburg, March 25 (IANS) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa would appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (Zondo Commission) in April, it was announced. In an announcement on Wednesday, Commission Chair Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said Ramaphosa would appear before the inquiry wearing his current African National Congress (ANC) […]

Mogadishu, March 24 (IANS) The UN humanitarian agency on Wednesday said attacks on aid workers delivering humanitarian supplies in Somalia resulted in the 15 deaths last year. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said 12 workers were injured, 24 abducted and 14 arrested in 2020 in which 56 incidents involving aid […]

Mandera, March 24 (IANS) At least four passengers were killed and dozens injured when the bus in which they were travelling in struck a roadside bomb in Kenya’s Mandera County on Wednesday, officials said. The bus was en route to the town of Mandera from the town of Lafey, said Mandera County Governor Ali Roba. […]

Niamey, March 23 (IANS) The death toll in an attack by armed assailants on several villages in Niger near the border with Mali has increased to 137, according to a government spokesperson. The villages in the Tahoua region were overrun on Sunday by unknown assailants, reports dpa news agency. An earlier tally had placed the […]

Kampala, March 23 (IANS) Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has offered cash rewards for information leading to the killers of six lions in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. A bounty of 10 million shillings ($2,857) has been offered to any individual with information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the people behind the […]

Khartoum, March 23 (IANS) Sudan has urged Ethiopia to accept a mediation quartet regarding the issue of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river. “Ethiopia should accept the mediation quartet of the US, the European Union, the US and the African Union to reach a fair and legal agreement,” Sudanese Irrigation […]

Brussels, March 22 (IANS) The European Union (EU) is sanctioning China for human rights abuses against the Uighur ethnic minority, an informed source from the 27-member bloc said on Monday. The source told dpa news agency that the decision came following an agreement from the bloc’s Foreign Ministers. The last time the EU imposed punitive […]

Niamey, March 22 (IANS) At least 40 people were killed when a group of armed assailants attacked several villages in Niger’s Tahoua region near the border with Mali, a government spokesperson said on Monday. Spokesperson Abdoulraman Zakaria said that soldiers were sent to the region and fought the attackers, reports dpa news agency. It was […]

Brussels, March 22 (IANS) The European Union (EU) is set to sanction 11 individuals involved in the Myanmar military coup, as well as for the repression of the demonstrators in the country, the bloc’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on Monday. The situation is deteriorating in the country, Borell […]

Brussels, March 22 (IANS) The European Union’s (EU) 27 Foreign Affairs Ministers are expected to endorse sanctions against various individuals and entities for human rights abuses on Monday. At a meeting in Brussels, the Ministers are likely to agree on sanctioning four individuals and one entity from China for their involvement in human rights abuses […]

Dodoma, March 22 (IANS) At least 10 African leaders will attend the state funeral of late Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who died last week due to a heart condition, chief government spokesman Hassan Abbasi said. Abbasi told a news conference on Sunday that the state funeral to be held on Monday at Jamhuri Stadium in […]

Windhoek, March 22 (IANS) Namibia has in the past 31 years significantly reduced extreme poverty among its citizens, President Hage Geingob said while commemorating the country’s 31st independence anniversary in a low-key affair at the State House in line with Covid-19 guidelines. The Namibian President said they will continue to prioritize funding health, education, social […]

Brussels, March 21 (IANS) The European Union’s (EU) top diplomat and the President of the EU Commission on Sunday condemned Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on women’s rights. EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen called on all signatories to ratify the convention on Twitter on Sunday, dpa news agency reported. “Women […]

Brussels, March 21 (IANS) A summit of European Union (EU) heads of state and government planned for later this week has been moved exclusively online as much of the continent faces a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of meeting in person Brussels, as originally planned, the leaders will meet via video conference, a […]

Brussels, March 20 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) to implement the bloc’s new action plan against racism. At the opening of the first European Summit Against Racism, von der Leyen on Friday said that the plan recognises that structural racism exists in […]

Brussels, March 18 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the European Union (EU) might restrict vaccine exports to countries who have higher inoculation rates, stressing the necessity to ensure reciprocity and proportionality of the vaccine exports. “We are in the crisis of the century, and I’m not ruling out anything […]

Brussels, March 16 (IANS) Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has called for improving the external and internal coordination on the bloc’s migration issues. The EU Ministers of Foreign and Home Affairs on Monday held an informal video conference on the external aspects of the bloc’s […]

Johannesburg, March 16 (IANS) South African students have continued their protests for free and quality education. In a statement issued on Monday, the South African Students Congress (SASCO) said some students barricaded the road on Jorisson street in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, chanting slogans, Xinhua news agency. Police used water cannons to try and disperse the crowd. […]

Brussels, March 16 (IANS) The European tourism industry was hit dramatically due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as accommodation in tourist establishments decreased by half compared to the previous year, the bloc’s statistical office Eurostat said. Eurostat said on Monday that the figure was a 52 per cent drop compared to 2019, reports Xinhua […]

Cairo, March 15 (IANS) A four-day exhibition in Egypt’s capital displaying products made by children with syndrome concluded amid huge visitor turnout. The event was held days ahead of the World Down Syndrome Day, which falls on March 21, to convey a message of solidarity and integration with people with Down syndrome, according to organisers, […]

Brussels, March 15 (IANS) The European Union (EU) launched a formal infringement process against Britain by sending a letter of formal notice to its former member state on Monday, accusing the country of breaking the Northern Ireland Protocol and the good faith obligation under the Withdrawal Agreement. It is the second time in a period […]

Addis Ababa, March 14 (IANS) The Ethiopian government has rejected US allegations of ethnic cleansing in the conflic-ridden Tigray regional state as “completely unfounded”. “(The accusation) is a completely unfounded and spurious verdict against the Ethiopian government,” the Foreign Ministry here said in a statement on Saturday, referring to allegations made by US Secretary of […]

Cairo, March 14 (IANS) Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry has announced the discovery of a number of ancient churches and rooms in the Bahariya Oasis, southwest of Cairo. In a statement, the Ministry said on Saturday that a Norwegian-French archaeological mission working at the Tal site in the Bahariya Oasis discovered a number of buildings […]

Addis Ababa, March 14 (IANS) The humanitarian situation in the rural areas of Ethiopia’s conflict-ridden Tigray regional state remains precarious, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said. In a statement, the ICRC said after months of fighting in the state, the humanitarian situation in rural areas remains challenging despite improving conditions in urban […]

Algiers, March 12 (IANS) Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has signed a decree that set June 12 as the date of the parliamentary elections, according to an official statement issued by his office The statement said that Tebboune on Thursday also signed the new election law that guarantees “fair and fair polls”, Xinhua news agency reported. […]

Addis Ababa, March 12 (IANS) More than 8,200 candidates have registered for the upcoming sixth Ethiopia general elections, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced. The NEBE disclosed on Thursday that 8,209 candidates and 47 political parties have registered to participate in the upcoming elections which is scheduled to be held in less than […]

Cairo, March 12 (IANS) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held talks with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok here, where they agreed to intensify coordination over the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river. The two leader during the meeting on Thursday also addressed regional issues of mutual concern and joint economic […]

Cairo, March 12 (IANS) At least 20 people were killed and 24 others wounded on Thursday as a massive fire engulfed a four-story clothing factory in Egypt’s El Obour city, north of Cairo, according to a statement of the Qalyubia province. It added that 15 fire engines and 10 ambulances hurried to the scene, including […]

Johannesburg, March 11 (IANS) A 35-year-old man died on Wednesday during a student protest in the main campus of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Braamfontein, a central suburb of Johannesburg, said the university in a statement. Initial reports suggested that the civilian was caught in clashes between protesters and local police, the statement […]

Brussels, March 10 (IANS) John Kerry, the US’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, has underlined the cooperation between Washington and the European Union (EU) on the fight against climate crisis during his visit to Brussels. In a tweet on Wednesday, Kerry said “Constructive trip to Brussels. The US and EU are hard at work to […]

Addis Ababa, March 10 (IANS) More than 131,000 people are displaced in 39 accessible locations in Ethiopia’s conflict-affected Tigray and the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. The UN migration agency, in its latest Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) survey released on Tuesday, said almost 70 per cent of the […]

Johannesburg, March 10 (IANS) South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) recorded a 1.5 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of 2020, and expanded 6.3 per cent quarter on quarter on a seasonally adjusted and annualised basis in the same quarter, official data revealed. Data published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday revealed […]

Cairo, March 10 (IANS) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said that the inauguration of the New Administrative Capital (NAC) and the relocation of the government’s headquarters to the new city will mark the “birth of a new state”. Sisi’s remarks came during a symposium here on Tuesday honouring the late armed forces personnel, Xinhua news agency […]

Khartoum, March 9 (IANS) A UN mission has said that it would work to mobilise international support and resources to support the transitional period in Sudan. Head of the UN Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan, Volker Perthes, made the remarks after meeting Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan at the presidential palace […]

Khartoum, March 7 (IANS) Sudan and Egypt have voiced rejection to a “fait accompli” approach to the issue of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river. “The two countries reiterate rejection of any approach seeking a fait accompli on and control of the Blue Nile through unilateral measures that do not […]

Cairo, March 7 (IANS) At least 20 people were killed and five injured when a microbus and a truck collided on Egypt’s El-Kureimat highway in Giza province. The accident took place on Saturday after the truck’s tire exploded, leading it to crash into the microbus that was travelling in the opposite direction, Xinhua news agency […]

Mogadishu, March 6 (IANS) At least 10 people were killed and 30 others injured in a suicide car bombing outside a popular restaurant in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu, a police official said. Those injured in the attack that targeted the Lul Yemeni restaurant near the seaport on Friday evening are mainly civilians, Xinhua news […]

Brussels, March 3 (IANS) The euro area inflation rate continues to be positive in February, with the harmonized index of consumer price (HICP) reading at 0.9 per cent, the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) said. It was the second consecutive month that had witnessed a positive HICP, Xinhua news agency quoted Eurostat as […]

Belfast, March 3 (IANS) The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed to a five-step plan for easing the coronavirus lockdown, local media reported. Unlike plans announced in England and Scotland, Northern Ireland’s proposal does not include a timetable and progression will depend on certain public health criteria being met, reports Xinhua news agency. According to the […]

Addis Ababa, March 3 (IANS) The African continent has faced its first economic recession in 25 years due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) report. The report, entitled “Building Forward for an African Green Recovery Report”, that was published late Monday highlighted the continent’s bold […]

Brussels, March 3 (IANS) The European Central Bank (ECB) has the flexibility to react if it concludes that the recent increases in bond yields would have a negative impact on financing conditions, the bank’s Vice President Luis de Guindos said. The ECB has recently seen an increase in yields, which is partly due to the […]

Addis Ababa, March 3 (IANS) The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) has called on member states to ensure safe situations while holding elections amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In its latest meeting, the Council dwelt upon the elections held across Africa during the period from July to December 2020 and those […]

Cairo, March 3 (IANS) Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Sudanese counterpart Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi stressed that Ethiopia’s possible second phase filling of the Nile dam unilaterally would pose a direct threat to water security of the two nations. The remarks came during the two Ministers meeting here on Tuesday, where they tackled a […]

Brussels, March 2 (IANS) The European Commission’s Vice President Margaritis Schinas said that it is set to introduce a Digital Green Pass that will enable the continent’s safe opening “while preserving the sacrifices done so far”. Addressing an online press conference following an informal meeting of European Union (EU) health ministers, Schinas said on Monday […]

Brussels, March 2 (IANS) With the bilateral agreement on geographical indications (GIs) entering into force, the European Union (EU) and China will work on promoting the registered agri-food products as well as protecting the iconic names. In a press release, the EU’s delegation to China said on Monday that the agreement protects initially 200 European […]

Johannesburg, March 1 (IANS) As Covid-19 cases decline, the South African cabinet has eased lockdown restrictions from alert level three to one, allowing political and religious gatherings, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced. “In the week that has just passed, the country recorded just under 10,000 new infections,” Ramaphosa said late Sunday night. “A month ago, in […]

Cairo, Feb 21 (IANS) Egyptian and Spanish naval forces held joint military drills in the Red Sea, Egypt’s armed forces said in a statement on Saturday. The joint exercise is the second in recent days, after the two navies held similar drills on February 14 also in the Red Sea, the Xinhua news reported. The […]

Mogadishu, Feb 20 (IANS) The UN said on Friday that it was concerned by armed clashes in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, and called for calm and restraint by all parties as security forces opened fire to break up anti-government protests in the city. The UN urged both the government and opposition presidential candidates to open […]

Kampala, Feb 18 (IANS) A grenade explosion killed four children and injured five others on Thursday in Maaji II Refugee Settlement in the northwestern Ugandan district of Adjumani, police said. Local police in a statement said the children picked the explosive from bush and took it home, where they were joined by other children, the […]

Cairo, Feb 18 (IANS) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held talks with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on boosting security and economic cooperation between the two countries, said the Egyptian presidency in a statement. Sisi and Qureshi discussed bolstering ties between Egypt and Pakistan “especially in terms of security and economic cooperation, and trade […]

Kigali, Feb 17 (IANS) The Rwandan Parliament has called on the European Parliament to retract a resolution condemning the arrest of Paul Rusesabagina in the country. Rusesabagina, who was portrayed as a humanitarian activist in the controversial Oscar-nominated film “Hotel Rwanda,” awaits a trial scheduled for Wednesday on criminal charges over his alleged involvement in […]

Brussels, Feb 17 (IANS) China became the main trade partner of the European Union (EU) in 2020, with exports and imports both increasing despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Eurostat said. According to the EU’s statistical service, the bloc’s imports from China throughout the year 2020 grew by 5.6 per cent year-on-year to 383.5 billion euros (US […]

Bangui, Feb 16 (IANS) Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, the former head of the Central African Republic (CAR) football federation is set to go on trial for war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Ngaissona, who led a mainly Christian anti-Balaka group, also faces crimes against humanity charges, which he denies, the BBC reported on Tuesday. He and […]

Johannesburg, Feb 12 (IANS) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for urgent actions to restore the country’s pandemic-battered economy In his State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Ramaphosa said that over the past year, South Africa has experienced a sharp decline in growth and a significant increase in unemployment, Xinhua news agency. The […]

Juba, Feb 12 (IANS) South Sudan said that it has sought support from the European Union (EU) to help lift the arms embargo and sanctions imposed by the US following the outbreak of a conflict in December 2013. Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, Deng Dau Deng, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said […]

Brussels, Feb 10 (IANS) The European Commission has launched a new plan for the Mediterranean as it seeks to strengthen the strategic partnership between the European Union (EU) and its southern neighbouring partners. The new agenda is based on the conviction that by working together, common challenges can be turned into opportunities, in the mutual […]

Cairo, Feb 10 (IANS) Leaders of a dozen Palestinian factions, including the two main rivals Fatah and Hamas, have concluded a two-day reconciliation dialogue in Egypt and agreed to cooperate to in holding the general elections this year. The agreement will hopefully end a 14-year rift between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ ruling Fatah and the […]

Khartoum, Feb 8 (IANS) Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has issued a decision to dissolve the government, the Council of Ministers said in a statement. “In accordance with the provisions of the constitutional document for the transitional period, the Prime Minister issued a decision today to relieve the ministers and ministers of state in the […]

Addis Ababa, Feb 7 (IANS) Moussa Faki Mahamat has secured a four-year second term as the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission. Mahamat was re-elected by African leaders who gathered as part of the two-day 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU, which kicked off virtually on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency. […]

Tunis, Feb 7 (IANS) A protest march was staged in the Tunisian capital of Tunis to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the assassination of left-wing opponent Chokri Belaid amid tight security measures. Belaid, head of the Democratic Patriotic Party and a leading voice of the country’s secular opposition, was shot dead outside his home in […]

Addis Ababa, Feb 5 (IANS) Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, has said that “exceptional situation” caused by coronavirus pandemic has diverted the bloc’s attention from the continent’s priority issues. Although the pandemic “has totally changed the working methods of the AU, it has not diverted the attention of the Union […]

Cairo, Feb 3 (IANS) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi highlighted the need of reaching a binding agreement among all parties over the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the state-run Nile TV reported. “The Nile River is a source of cooperation and development,” said Sisi during a joint press conference with visiting President of the Democratic […]

Cairo, Jan 31 (IANS) Egypt will re-nominate Ahmed Aboul-Gheit as Secretary General of the Arab League (AL) for a second term, Egyptian Presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi sent messages to Arab leaders to express Egypt’s intention to re-nominate Aboul-Gheit as the AL chief for another five years, Rady said in a statement […]

Addis Ababa, Jan 31 (IANS) The African Union (AU) Commission and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have kicked off a year-long project to mark the 20th anniversary since the establishment of the bloc. The year-long initiative, dubbed “AU at 20: A Renewed Call to Action for the 21st Century”, envisaged to mark the 20th anniversary […]

Rabat, Jan 30 (IANS) Morocco and Israel have agreed to set up inter-governmental working groups to foster cooperation, after the two countries agreed to establish full diplomatic relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat said in a statement. Such inter-governmental groups will work in cooperation in fields, including investment, agriculture, water, environment, tourism, science, […]

Rabat, Jan 30 (IANS) Morocco received its first shipment of China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines, the ministry of health said. The first batch of vaccines developed by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd (Sinopharm) arrived at Casablanca airport on Wednesday and have been dispatched to the vaccination locations throughout the country, the ministry said in […]