European Parliament committees vote for EU-UK trade deal
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 […]
Read MoreEU calls for negotiated settlement in Afghanistan
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 […]
Read MoreEU’s von der Leyen gets 1st Covid jab
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid cases pass 4.38 mn
Addis Ababa, April 16 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,383,168 as of Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), said the death toll from the pandemic stood at 116,727 while 3,933,939 patients […]
Read MoreEU to borrow 800bn euros to fund recovery
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 […]
Read MoreEU in talks with Pfizer/BioNTech for 1.8bn doses
Brussels, April 15 (IANS) European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that talks were under way with Pfizer/BioNTech for a new contract for 1.8 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines to be delivered in 2022 and 2023. She said in a statement on Wednesday that the new contract was sought after the European Union (EU) […]
Read MoreNATO initiates full withdrawal from Afghanistan
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 […]
Read MoreDeath toll up to 42 after boat capsizes off Djibouti
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 […]
Read MoreBenin’s Prez Talon wins reelection
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 […]
Read MoreEU rejects attempts to derail process to revive Iran n-deal
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 […]
Read MoreSuez Canal celebrates arrival of large dredger
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 […]
Read MoreNegligence led to deadly Egypt train accident
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica’s Covid-19 cases pass 4.35 mn: Africa CDC
Addis Ababa, April 13 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,350,512, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), said on Monday that the death toll from the pandemic stood at 115,765 while 3,906,408 patients […]
Read MoreEU Council approves more funds to address pandemic needs
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 […]
Read MoreDeath toll from armed clashes in W.Darfur reach 137
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 […]
Read More19 officers injured in N.Ireland riot
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 […]
Read MoreLargest dredge in M-E arrives in Suez Canal
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 […]
Read MoreJanssen’s Covid-19 vaccine under EU review over blood clots
Brussels, April 10 (IANS) Europe’s medicines watchdog said it was reviewing reports of rare blood clots in four people who received the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson. In a statement, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said its safety committee had started a review to assess reports of thromboembolic […]
Read MoreEurope stumbles through Covid-19 with 1 mn deaths
Brussels, April 10 (IANS) For Danica Angela Marcos, the weirdest yet saddest scenario was to watch her grandfather’s funeral live on Zoom, seeing her cousins crying on the screen but not able to give them a hug because of the lockdown. “It’s not like we can do (it) all over again when the pandemic is […]
Read MoreAfrican countries receive over 33.8 mn Covid-19 vaccine doses
Addis Ababa, April 10 (IANS) African countries have received over 33.8 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from the COVAX facility and through bilateral agreements outside COVAX, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), said, approximately 12.9 million doses have been administered, […]
Read MoreBotswana prioritises the elderly above 75 for vaccination
Gaborone, April 10 (IANS) Botswana has adjusted its Covid-19 vaccination rollout by giving priority to the elderly above the age of 75, a health official said. Due to the limited available doses and the need to actively protect the most vulnerable, the government has taken a decision to give priority to the elderly above the […]
Read MoreEU condemns violence in Northern Ireland
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 […]
Read MoreMorocco, France discuss bilateral ties, regional issues
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. […]
Read More132 killed in West Darfur clashes
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 […]
Read MoreMuslim Brotherhood’s acting leader sentenced to life in jail
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 […]
Read MoreEgypt unveils discovery of 3,000-yr-old ‘Lost Gold City’
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. […]
Read MoreMorocco’s confirmed Covid-19 cases exceed 500,000
Rabat, April 9 (IANS) A total of 635 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Morocco, taking the national tally of infections to 500,323, the Moroccan Ministry of Health said. Six more people died from the disease, taking the death toll in the North African country to 8,873, while 434 people were in intensive care units, […]
Read MoreAfrica’s Covid-19 cases pass 4.3 mn
Addis Ababa, April 9 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,301,375, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), on Thursday said the death toll from the pandemic stood at 114,598 while 3,868,129 patients across […]
Read MoreEgypt sentences 9 to life imprisonment over terror charges
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 […]
Read MoreMorocco to impose night curfew during Ramadan
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 […]
Read MoreAll options open regarding Nile dam: Sudan
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases surpass 4.29 mn
Addis Ababa, April 8 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,291,017, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union, said on Wednesday that the death toll from the pandemic stood at 114,344, while 3,858,461 patients across […]
Read MoreMorocco helps France thwart terror attack
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 […]
Read MoreSuez Canal traffic normal despite ship’s engine breakdown
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 […]
Read MoreSudan reiterates need to change Nile dam negotiating approach
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 […]
Read MoreState of emergency imposed in West Darfur
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 […]
Read MoreUkraine assured of ‘unwavering EU support’
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 […]
Read MoreMain hall of Egypt’s NMEC open for visitors
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 […]
Read MoreUN condemns terror attacks on army bases in Somalia
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 […]
Read More2.1 mn people in Ethiopia in need of humanitarian assistance: UN
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 […]
Read More50 S.Africans missing after Mozambique terror attack
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 […]
Read More58 abducted women, kids reunite with families in S.Sudan
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 […]
Read MoreLast group of stranded ships cross Suez Canal
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 […]
Read MoreEgypt moves 22 Pharaonic mummies to new museum
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 […]
Read MorePolice break up illegal mass gathering in Brussels
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 […]
Read MoreSudan urges AU to back completion of peace process
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 […]
Read More90 inmates escape from Liberia jail
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 […]
Read MoreS.Africa to clamp down on alcohol during Easter
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 […]
Read MoreSuez Canal to seek over $1bn compensation for losses caused by stuck ship
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 […]
Read MoreTanzanian Prez announces Cabinet reshuffle
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 […]
Read MoreS.Sudan militia responsible for 78% of killings: UN
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 […]
Read MoreSudan warns of danger of Ethiopia’s 2nd filling of Nile dam
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 […]
Read MoreEU fails to achieve March vax goals amid looming 3rd wave
Brussels, April 1 (IANS) The European Union has fallen short of vaccinating 80 per cent of health care workers and people over the age of 80 against Covid-19 by the end of March, a target set by the bloc’s executive branch. Figures published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that […]
Read MoreWorld leaders call for new int’l pandemic treaty
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 […]
Read MoreEU chief warns of Covid crisis’ domino effect
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 […]
Read MoreEuropean economic activity starting to show recovery signs
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 […]
Read MoreEU chiefs to visit Turkey on April 6
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 […]
Read MoreUS, EU voice readiness to mediate in Nile dam issue
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 […]
Read MoreMassive container ship freed from Suez Canal (Ld)
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 […]
Read MoreEgyptian, French Presidents discuss Nile dam
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 […]
Read MoreMassive container ship freed from Suez Canal
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 […]
Read MoreDeath toll in Egypt building collapse reaches 23
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 […]
Read MoreEgypt, US diplomats discuss revival of Nile dam talks
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 […]
Read MoreUgandan Prez receives 1st Covid jab
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 […]
Read More321 vessels jammed around Suez Canal
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, […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid cases pass 4.16 mn
Addis Ababa, March 28 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,166,555 as of Saturday noon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), said the death toll from the pandemic stood at 111,540, while 3,734,641 […]
Read MoreSuez Canal welcomes help from US to refloat cargo ship
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 […]
Read More32 killed as 2 trains collide in southern Egypt
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 […]
Read MoreEU leaders agree to relaunch cooperation with Turkey
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 […]
Read MoreSuez Canal halts shipping
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 […]
Read MoreS.African Prez to appear before state capture inquiry
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) […]
Read MoreBelgium announces new Covid-19 restrictions
Brussels, March 25 (IANS) Non-medical contact professions in Belgium, such as hairdressers and beauty salons, will have to close, the country’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said at a press conference. Schools will also close next week and will reopen on April 19 in a blitz of new measures designed to curb the third coronavirus […]
Read MoreEU tightens Covid-19 vaccine export rules
Brussels, March 25 (IANS) The European Commission presented a revised version of its export transparency mechanism for Covid-19 vaccines, with Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis claiming that it does not constitute an export ban. The mechanism takes aim at vaccines produced in European Union (EU)-based facilities of pharmaceutical companies that are bound by an advance […]
Read More15 aid workers killed in Somalia last year: UN
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 […]
Read More4 killed as bus hits roadside bomb in Kenya
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. […]
Read MoreChina hands over 2nd batch of Covid-19 vaccine to Egypt
Cairo, March 24 (IANS) China handed over the second batch of Covid-19 vaccine donation to Egypt. Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed held a press conference at the headquarters of the health ministry, during which Liao signed a certificate to confirm the handover with Egyptian Assistant Health Minister for […]
Read MoreZimbabwean prez to get his first shot of vaccine this week
Harare, March 24 (IANS) Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa will get his first shot of China’s Sinovac vaccine on Wednesday in the resort town of Victoria Falls where he will also launch the country’s second phase of the inoculation program, Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga said this in a statement. “The Second Phase of […]
Read MoreNiger border attack toll climbs to 137
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 […]
Read MoreUganda offers bounty on lion killers
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 […]
Read MoreEthiopia urged to accept mediation quartet over Nile dam
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 […]
Read MoreEU sanctions China for rights abuses against Uighurs
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 […]
Read More40 killed in Niger border attack
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 […]
Read MoreEU to sanction 11 involved in Myanmar coup
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 […]
Read MoreEU Ministers to issue sanctions for rights abuses
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 […]
Read MoreAfrican leaders to attend late Tanzanian Prez’s funeral
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 […]
Read MoreNamibia celebrates 31st independence anniversary amid poverty reduction
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 […]
Read MoreEU urges Turkey to return to treaty on women’s rights
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 […]
Read MoreEU leaders’ summit moves entirely online
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 […]
Read MoreEuropean Commission urges members to fight racism
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 […]
Read MoreSeveral European nations to restart AstraZeneca vax
Brussels, March 19 (IANS) Several European countries have announced they would restart vaccinations with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) deemed it “safe and effective”. The EMA statement came after an extensive review of possible blood clot risks, the agency’s chief said on Thursday, following reports that some people had developed […]
Read MoreEU regulator to unveil Astrazeneca vax assessment
Brussels, March 18 (IANS) The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is due to provide an assessment on Thursday of the safety of Astrazeneca’s vaccine against Covid-19 after several countries temporarily suspended use of the jab over fears about side effects. The EMA’s safety committee has been making a detailed evaluation of a small number of cases […]
Read MoreEU threatens to restrict vax exports
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 […]
Read MoreEbola infects 30, kills 15 in Guinea, DRC
Addis Ababa, March 18 (IANS) The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have reported 30 Ebola virus cases and 15 related deaths so far. In an update on Wednesday, the Africa CDC reported a fatality rate of 50 per cent in the two countries, […]
Read MoreEU proposes Covid-19 certificate to boost travel
Brussels, March 18 (IANS) The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a Digital Green Certificate covering Covid-19 vaccination, testing and recovery, in a bid to reopen the European Union (EU) “in a safe, sustainable and predictable way.” “This is an EU level approach to issuing, verifying and accepting certificates to facilitate free movement within the EU,” […]
Read MoreRwanda to continue using AstraZeneca vaccines: Minister
Kigali, March 17 (IANS) Rwanda will continue administering the AstraZeneca vaccines as the reported side effects have not been confirmed, the country’s Health Minister Daniel Ngamije said. Some European countries have suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of blood clots in some recipients. The World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting safety review of […]
Read MoreAlgeria extends partial lockdown in 16 provinces
Algiers, March 17 (IANS) The Algerian government has extended the partial lockdown in 16 provinces for two weeks, as part of its continued efforts to contain the Covid pandemic. The extension of the partial lockdown starts on Wednesday and will last until the end of March, as the 16 provinces that still register relatively large […]
Read MoreTop EU official urges greater coordination on migration
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 […]
Read MoreS.African students continue protests
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. […]
Read MoreEU tourism halved in 2020: Eurostat
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 […]
Read MoreMore European nations halt AstraZeneca vax
Brussels, March 16 (IANS) An additional number of European countries — France Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Cyprus, Portugal — have also suspended the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine over blood clot concerns. The countries on Monday described the move as a precautionary measure pending a decision by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which had […]
Read MoreEgyptian children with Down syndrome exhibit hand-made creations
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, […]
Read MoreEU starts legal action against Britain for breaching Northern Ireland Protocol
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases pass 4.03 mn
Addis Ababa, March 15 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,036,415 as of Monday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 107,822, while 3,623,392 […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases pass 4.02mn
Addis Ababa, March 15 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,025,390 as of Sunday evening, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), said that the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 107,523, […]
Read MoreEthiopia rejects US allegations of ethnic cleansing
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 […]
Read More5 EU nations call for debate vax distribution
Brussels, March 14 (IANS) Leaders from five European Union (EU) nations have called for a debate on the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in the bloc. In a letter sent n Saturday to European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the five EU leaders underscored the significance of European solidarity, […]
Read MoreEgypt announces new archaeological discovery
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 […]
Read MoreHumanitarian situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray precarious
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid cases pass 4 mn mark
Addis Ababa, March 13 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,005,204 as of Friday morning, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the 55-member African Union (AU), said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 107,001, […]
Read MoreDate set for Algerian parliamentary polls
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. […]
Read MoreOver 8,200 candidates registered for Ethiopian polls
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 […]
Read MoreEgypt, Sudan hope for binding deal before Nile dam filling
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 […]
Read MoreEU authorises Covid vax produced by J&J
Brussels, March 12 (IANS) The European Union (EU) has authorised the use of a Covid-19 vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson, only hours after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) made a positive recommendation based on scientific assessment of its efficacy and safety. Developed by Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson, it is the […]
Read More20 killed in fire at Egypt clothing factory
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 […]
Read MoreOne dead in student protest in South Africa
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 […]
Read MoreJohn Kerry in Brussels to renew climate cooperation
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 […]
Read MoreOver 131,000 displaced in Ethiopia: IOM
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 […]
Read MoreS.African economy shrunk by 7% in 2020
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 […]
Read MoreNew Egyptian capital will mark birth of new state: Sisi
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 […]
Read MoreMorocco registers 508 new Covid cases
Rabat, March 10 (IANS) Morocco announced on Tuesday 508 new Covid-19 cases, taking the tally in the North African country to 486,833. The total number of recoveries from Covid-19 in Morocco increased to 473,208 after 644 more were added, Xinhua news agency reported. The death toll rose to 8,695 with 12 new fatalities during the […]
Read MoreInt’l support for Sudan during transitional phase
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 […]
Read MoreEU to get 100mn vax doses per month from April
Brussels, March 9 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union (EU) will receive 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses per month from April, bringing the total to 300 million for the second quarter of this year. Von der Leyen told the media on Monday that about 20 million doses were delivered […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases pass 3.95 mn
Addis Ababa, March 8 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 3,955,148, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the 55-member African Union (AU), on Sunday said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 105,490, while 3,533,574 […]
Read MoreAfrica reports nearly 3.95mn Covid cases
Addis Ababa, March 7 (IANS) The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa has reached 3,948,029, health authorities said. In an update on Saturday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said the death toll stood at 105,275, while some 3,526,325 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease, reports Xinhua […]
Read MoreSudan, Egypt voice rejection to Nile dam approach
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 […]
Read More20 killed in Egypt road accident
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 […]
Read MoreTurkey reports 11,770 new Covid-19 cases
Cairo, March 7 (IANS) Turkey reported 11,770 new Covid-19 cases, while Iran’s total infections exceeded 1.68 million after 8,212 daily cases were registered. Among the new cases confirmed in Turkey, 702 were symptomatic patients, as the total number of positive cases in the country reached 2,769,230, according to Turkish health ministry, Xinhua news agency reported […]
Read More10 dead, 30 hurt in Mogadishu suicide blast
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 […]
Read More21 African nations’ Covid fatality rates higher than global average
Addis Ababa, March 6 (IANS) Twenty-one African countries are reporting Covid-19 fatality rates higher than the global average, according to health authorities. In a statement on Friday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the number of Covid-19-related deaths in the continent now stood at 105,001, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the […]
Read More52.7% Israelis vaccinated against Covid-19; Oman to administer 2nd jabs
Cairo, March 6 (IANS) The number of people vaccinated against Covid-19 in Israel has surpassed 4.9 million, or 52.7 per cent of its total population. Meanwhile, the Omani health authorities announced that the second doses of Covid-19 vaccines will start to be administered from Sunday. Israel’s Ministry of Health reported 3,779 new Covid-19 cases on […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases near 3.94 mn
Addis Ababa, March 6 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached 3,937,028, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the 55-member African Union (AU), said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 105,001, while 3,512,473 patients across […]
Read MoreEgypt starts vaccination for elderly, patients with chronic diseases
Cairo, March 5 (IANS) Egypt started vaccinating elderly people and patients with chronic diseases against Covid-19, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed were present at one of Cairo medical centres to witness the two categories of citizens receiving their first shots of the anti-coronavirus vaccine, […]
Read MoreEthiopia reports 1,161 new Covid-19 cases
Addis Ababa, March 4 (IANS) Ethiopia registered 1,161 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 161,974 as of Wednesday evening, the country’s Ministry of Health said. The ministry said five new deaths from the coronavirus were reported across the country during the same period, bringing the national death toll […]
Read MoreGhana begins mass vaccination program against Covid-19
Accra, March 4 (IANS) The government of Ghana has rolled out a program to commence the mass vaccination of people living in some 43 epicenter-districts in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central regions against the Covid-19 pandemic. Among eligible persons for the vaccination program includes healthcare workers, frontline security personnel, persons with underlying medical conditions, […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases pass 3.91 mn
Addis Ababa, March 4 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 3,914,044, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the 55-member African Union (AU), on Wednesday said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 104,382, while some 3,496,382 […]
Read MoreEbola infects 28 people, kills 11 in Guinea, DRC
Addis Ababa, March 3 (IANS) The African countries of Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have reported 28 Ebola virus cases and 11 deaths so far, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The DRC reported 11 cases and four deaths, while Guinea confirmed 17 cases and seven deaths, showing […]
Read MoreEuro area inflation expected to be stable at 0.9%
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 […]
Read MoreNorthern Ireland reveals 5-step plan to ease lockdown
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica faces first recession in 25 years
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 […]
Read More‘ECB has flexibility to react to yield rise’
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 […]
Read MoreAU urges member states to ensure safe polls
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 […]
Read MoreEgypt, Sudan voice concern over Nile dam filling
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 […]
Read MoreEU to introduce health passport system
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 […]
Read More3 new Ebola cases confirmed in DRC
Kinshasa, March 2 (IANS) Three new cases of the Ebola virus have been confirmed in Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu province, a senior health official told the media. The three new cases which were reported in Butembo health zone raised the overall tally in the country to 11 since the resurgence of […]
Read MoreEU, China to promote, protect specific agri-food products
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 […]
Read MoreUgandan schools, tertiary institutions reopen in phased manner
Kampala, March 2 (IANS) Schools and tertiary institutions in Uganda reopened in a phased manner as the east African country grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a government directive, semi-candidate learners and all tertiary institutions and universities would resume on Monday while the rest of the students await further instruction, Xinhua news agency reported. […]
Read MoreSouth Africa eases lockdown restrictions
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 […]
Read MoreTunisia reports 662 new Covid-19 cases, 233,277 in total
Tunis, March 1 (IANS) Tunisian Health Ministry reported 662 new Covid-19 cases, raising the total number of infections in the country to 233,277. The death toll from the virus rose by 27 to 8,001, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients reached 1,108, including 266 in intensive care […]
Read MoreZimbabwean doctors give Sinopharm vaccine thumbs up
Harare, Feb 28 (IANS) Some Zimbabwean doctors who are part of the frontline workers inoculated with their first doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine donated by China, have said it is safe, and also encouraged others to get the jab, the media reported. Epidemiologist and director of health for Kadoma City Daniel Chirundu told The […]
Read MoreS.Africa vaccinates over 60,000 in one week
Johannesburg, Feb 28 (IANS) South African Department of Health has said the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out is going well with a total of 63,648 people vaccinated in a week since the programme started. “The Sisonke (Together) programme is outperforming original targets for number of vaccines delivered in its first week and is set to continue this […]
Read MoreEthiopia logs 935 fresh Covid cases
Addis Ababa, Feb 27 (IANS) Ethiopia has reported 935 fresh Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the cumulative tally to 157,047, health ministry said on Saturday. The ministry said that 19 new deaths from the coronavirus were reported across the country during the same period, taking the toll to 2,340. The East African […]
Read MoreNamibian Prez lauds China’s Covid vaccine assistance
Windhoek, Feb 24 (IANS) Namibian President Hage Geingob on Wednesday lauded China and other nations for Covid vaccine assistance to the country in fighting the pandemic. This comes after China recently announced a donation of 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines to Namibia. China is also helping other countries in the southern African region with the vaccine, Xinhua […]
Read MoreEgypt, Spain hold joint naval exercise in Red Sea
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 […]
Read MoreGhana to vaccinate 20m people against Covid-19 from March
Accra, Feb 20 (IANS) Ghana will begin to vaccinate some 20 million persons against Covid-19 from the first week of March, said Kwame Amponsa-Akyianu, Ghana’s program manager for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) on Friday. Speaking at an engagement on Ghana’s Covid-19 roll-out plan, he observed that the vision of the country is to […]
Read More570 South African police officers succumb to Covid-19
Pretoria, Feb 20 (IANS) A total of 570 police officers have succumbed to Covid-19 in South Africa while over 27,000 were infected, said Police Minister Bheki Cele on Friday. Cele made the remarks in Pretoria while releasing the crime statistics for the third quarter of the 2020-2021 financial year, the Xinhua news agency reported. He […]
Read MoreEU doubles contribution to global Covid vaccine programme
Brussels, Feb 20 (IANS) The European Union (EU) has announced to double its contribution to COVAX, an international programme devised to help low and middle-income countries to have more access to Covid-19 vaccines. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told the G7 leaders’ virtual summit on Friday that the bloc was pledging an additional […]
Read MoreUN appeals for calm amid armed clashes in Somali capital
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 […]
Read MoreSomalia bans public gatherings amid resurgence in infections
Mogadishu, Feb 18 (IANS) The Somali government has banned public gatherings and called on non-essential workers to work from home amid rising cases of Covid-19 in the country. The ministers of health, information and security said the infection rate has gone up in February after nine people died and 100 new cases were reported on […]
Read More4 children killed in Uganda grenade explosion
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 […]
Read MoreMorocco’s Covid-19 tally rises to 479,579
Rabat, Feb 18 (IANS) Morocco’s Covid-19 tally rose to 479,579 on Wednesday as 508 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours. According to a statement by the Ministry of Health, the death toll mounted to 8,517 as 13 Covid-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, the Xinhua news reported. The total number […]
Read MoreEgypt, Pakistan eye further security, economic cooperation
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 […]
Read MoreEU launches bio-defence preparedness plan against Covid
Brussels, Feb 18 (IANS) The European Union (EU) has stepped up its efforts to detect and fight Covid-19 variants by bringing together various stakeholders to develop new and adapted vaccines. A new project called “HERA Incubator” will gather researchers, biotech companies, manufacturers and public authorities in the EU and globally to detect new coronavirus variants, […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases top 3.76 mn
Addis Ababa, Feb 18 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases on the African continent reached 3,768,572, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. According to the continental disease control and prevention agency’s Africa Covid-19 dashboard, the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 99,367 as of Wednesday noon, Xinhua […]
Read MoreRwanda defends arrest of Rusesabagina in controversial movie
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 […]
Read MoreChina becomes EU’s biggest trade partner in 2020
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica confirmed Covid-19 cases near 3.76 mn: Africa CDC
Addis Ababa, Feb 17 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases on the African continent reached 3,759,166, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. According to the continental disease control and prevention agency’s Africa Covid-19 dashboard, the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 98,915 as of Tuesday noon, Xinhua […]
Read MoreZimbabwean prez extends 6-week lockdown by 2 weeks
Harare, Feb 17 (IANS) Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended the six-week nationwide lockdown by a further two weeks, citing the need to further reduce Covid-19 cases and deaths. He, however, increased business operating hours from seven to nine and a half hours per day, night curfew hours were shortened from 12 hours to nine and […]
Read MoreEx-football chief on trial for war crimes
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 […]
Read MoreZimbabwe gets its first batch of Covid vaccines from China
Harare, Feb 16 (IANS) A batch of Covid-19 vaccines donated by China has arrived at Robert Mugabe International Airport in Zimbabwe’s capital here. The 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines are the first batch that Zimbabwe has received on Monday as it steps up efforts to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, Xinhua news agency […]
Read MoreZimbabwe receives first batch of Covid-19 vaccines from China
Harare, Feb 16 (IANS) A batch of Covid-19 vaccines donated by China arrived in Robert Mugabe International Airport in Zimbabwe’s capital here. The 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines are the first batch that Zimbabwe has received as it steps up efforts to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. […]
Read MoreCovid-19 variant found in Gabon : Health Minister
Libreville, Feb 15 (IANS) Gabonese Minister of Health Guy Patrick Obiang Ndong on Monday announced that Gabonese researchers from the Franceville International Center for Medical Research (CIRMF) had found the presence of the coronavirus variant discovered in the United Kingdom. According to the Minister, out of 60 samples, one was found to be the variant […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases surpass 3.74 mln
Addis Ababa, Feb 15 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases on the African continent reached 3,740,297, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. According to the continental disease control and prevention agency’s Africa COVID-19 dashboard, the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 98,187 as of Sunday afternoon, Xinhua […]
Read MoreS.African Prez calls for actions to restore economy
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 […]
Read MoreS.Sudan urges EU to support lifting of arms embargo
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 […]
Read MoreEgypt starts issuing 15mn coins to honour medical workers
Cairo, Feb 11 (IANS) Egypt has started issuing 15 million commemorative coins in appreciation of the role played by medical workers in fighting Covid-19 in the country, an Egyptian Finance Ministry official said. “We have already started issuing the coins and making them available in the markets. The issuing of the 15 million coins will […]
Read MoreEU launches new strategic plan for the Mediterranean
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 […]
Read MorePalestinian factions reach historic reconciliation over polls
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 […]
Read MoreAstraZeneca vaccine roll-out in S.Africa to be postponed
Johannesburg, Feb 8 (IANS) South African authorities have confirmed that the roll-out of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in the country will be temporarily put on hold until more “clinically efficacy information” of the vaccine against new variants of the virus is available. “It’s a temporary issue that we have to hold onto AstraZeneca until we […]
Read MoreSudan PM issues decision to dissolve govt
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 […]
Read MoreDemocratic Republic of Congo confirms a new Ebola case
Kinshasa, Feb 8 (IANS) A new positive case of the Ebola virus has been confirmed in North Kivu, a province in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to Minister of Public Health Eteni Longondo. The infected person is woman, who is the wife of an Ebola survivor in the Butembo health zone, located in North […]
Read MoreIncumbent AU Commission Chairperson secures 2nd 4-yr term
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. […]
Read MoreProtest march in Tunisian capital amid tight security measures
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid cases pass 3.62 million
Addis Ababa, Feb 6 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases on the African continent has reached 3,626,960, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. According to the continental disease control and prevention agency’s Covid-19 dashboard, the death toll related to the pandemic in Africa stood at 93,647 as of Friday, […]
Read MoreAU withstands ‘exceptional situation’ caused by Covid-19
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 […]
Read MoreEgypt Prez highlights need for binding deal on Ethiopian Nile dam
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 […]
Read MoreNearly 70% of Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 deaths recorded in January
Harare, Feb 3 (IANS) Nearly 70 per cent of Zimbabwe’s confirmed Covid-19 deaths were recorded in January, highlighting a resurgence of the virus in the southern African country, Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care said. In a statement released on Monday, the ministry said in January alone, a total of 854 people died from […]
Read MoreMalawi to receive Covid-19 vaccines in late February
Lilongwe, Feb 3 (IANS) Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has announced that his government has finally secured doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to help immunize “as many citizens as possible” against Covid-19. Chakwera said the first consignment of the vaccine will arrive at the end of February for rollout in March, Xinhua news agency reported on […]
Read More5 killed in Mogadishu suicide bombing outside hotel
Mogadishu, Feb 1 (IANS) At least five people were killed and several others injured in a suicide car bombing outside a hotel frequented by government officials in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu, police said. The attack started at 5 p.m. on Sunday when a car packed with explosives exploded outside the Afrik Hotel near a […]
Read MoreEU preps for rapid development of vaccines against Covid variants
Brussels, Feb 1 (IANS) Top officials of the European Union (EU) held discussions with drug giants about the rapid development and production of vaccines specially against the new variants of the coronavirus. The emergence of variants of concern “raises the imminent threat of reduced efficacy of recently approved vaccines,” and it is crucial to prepare […]
Read MoreAstraZeneca to increase vaccine supply to EU: von der Leyen
Brussels, Feb 1 (IANS) Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has promised to increase its vaccine supply to the European Union (EU), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company will deliver 9 million additional doses in the first quarter of this year, bringing the total quarterly supply to 40 million, compared to last […]
Read MoreAfrica’s confirmed Covid-19 cases pass 3.55 mn: Africa CDC
Addis Ababa, Feb 1 (IANS) The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases on the African continent reached 3,551,956, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. According to the continental disease control and prevention agency’s COVID-19 dashboard, the death toll related to the pandemic in Africa stood at 90,454, Xinhua news agency reported […]
Read MoreEgypt re-nominates Aboul-Gheit as Arab League Secretary General
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 […]
Read MoreAfrica’s 2nd wave could be due to new Covid-19 variants
Addis Ababa, Jan 31 (IANS) The ongoing second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa could be associated with the emergence of new variants of the virus that are more transmissible. “Africa is currently experiencing an increase in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases,” the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said […]
Read MoreAU, UNDP launch year-long project
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 […]
Read MoreEU authorizes AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine
Brussels, Jan 30 (IANS) The European Commission has granted conditional marketing authorization for the Covid-19 vaccine developed by British company AstraZeneca and Oxford University, although the bloc seems unlikely to get the amount of doses as agreed at the moment. “Securing safe vaccines for Europeans is our utmost priority. With the AstraZeneca vaccine now authorized, […]
Read MoreMorocco, Israel set up working groups to foster cooperation
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, […]
Read MoreBelgium reports Covid-19 surge in children
Brussels, Jan 30 (IANS) The number of new coronavirus cases has more than doubled among children under the age of 10 in one week in Belgium, a top health official said here. In a statement issued here on Friday, Yves Van Laethem, the inter-federal Covid-19 spokesman, said the actual rate of increase was 128 per […]
Read MoreUganda to receive Covid-19 vaccines in April
Kampala, Jan 30 (IANS) The Ugandan government said the country would receive Covid-19 vaccines in April or May this year. A government statement issued here by the Uganda Media Centre said the vaccines would cost the country US $164 million and that nine million people would benefit, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. Priority would […]
Read MoreMorocco receives 1st batch of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines
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 […]
Read MoreCovid-19 strains could prolong 2nd wave in Africa: WHO
Addis Ababa, Jan 29 (IANS) Discovery of new Covid-19 variants in several African countries risk prolonging the second wave of the pandemic in the continent and overwhelm its already fragile public health systems, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official said. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, raised alarm over the spread of […]
Read More