AFRICA

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Despite a growing number of countries impose flight bans on southern African nations due to concerns over the new Omicron variant, World Health Organization (WHO) urges countries to follow science and the International Health Regulations. In a statement, the organization warns that travel bans may …

Cairo, Egypt | Xinhua | The Egyptian government suspended direct flights with a number of southern African countries due to concerns over the new COVID-19 variant Omicron. The decision was made late on Friday after a meeting of the ministerial crisis management committee headed by Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, according …

Vaccination remains a key tool to prevent severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 infection Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Friday urged African health authorities to intensify COVID-19 prevention measures amid the emergence of a new variant. The Africa CDC …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Tanzania’s national flag carrier, Air Tanzania, resumed daily flights to Kenya on Friday after a hiatus of more than 20 years amid renewed business relations between the two east African neighbors. The arrival of the Airbus A220-300 at 6:45 a.m. local time in Nairobi marked the …

Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | The World Health Organization (WHO) classified on Friday the latest variant B.1.1.529 of SARS-CoV-2, which was first reported from South Africa, as a “Variant of Concern” (VOC), and asked countries to enhance surveillance and sequencing efforts. South Africa has seen …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | The Ethiopian government on Thursday urged the U.S. government and organizations to cease spreading false information regarding the country’s current situation. The Ethiopian government has warned the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa and organizations against their continued practice of spreading false information, state-television Ethiopian …

  Beijing, China | Xinhua | A Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting to be held at the end of November is expected to produce plans for friendly China-Africa cooperation in the next phase, said a white paper released Friday. The white paper, titled “China and Africa in the New …

Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA – URN | Only 27 percent of health workers in Africa have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is according to a preliminary analysis by World Health Organization (WHO). Analysis of data reported from 25 countries finds that since March 2021, 1.3 million health workers …

Harare, Zimbabwe | Xinhua | Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday called for the restitution and repatriation of African artifacts that were expropriated from Africa during the colonial era and are currently displayed in Western museums. Mnangagwa made the remarks at the third edition of the International Conference on African Cultures, …

Abuja, Nigeria | Xinhua | The Nigerian government said Wednesday it expects to revive the long defunct national airline, the Air Nigeria, by April 2022 after a restructuring plan for the airline has been approved. A plan outlining business arrangement of the national carrier, which ceased operations in 2012 due to …