AFRICA

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday sounded alarm over a spike in mental ailments in Africa due to COVID-19 related social and economic disruptions. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said the pandemic had worsened the continent’s mental health crisis amid lockdowns, job …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | Africa should close the inequality gaps if the continent is set to realize recovery targets aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), said on Thursday. “If we do not find ways of closing …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Passenger numbers and cargo volumes on Kenya’s standard gauge railway (SGR) trains maintained a steady climb in August, pointing to increased demand for the service following the reopening of the country as COVID-19 cases declined. Some 32,641 passengers used the SGR passenger train in August, …

Kigali, Rwanda | XINHUA | A team of military experts under the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM), a Great Lakes regional military framework, on Monday investigated 19 Burundian fighters’ illegal entry into Rwanda, the Rwandan military said. The experts, with the mission to verify and report back to EJVM Command on …

Johannesburg, South Africa | XINHUA | South Africa is at an advanced stage to start teaching robotics starting at grade R to nine, said the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga on Monday. Motshekga said this virtually while addressing the 2020 World Teachers’ Day. “Plans are also afoot to introduce …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA | The industrialization and trade potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement cannot be realized without adequate quality infrastructure systems, a new report by the United Nations and the African Union (AU) report said. The newly published report, entitled “Identifying Priority Products …

Kanungu, Uganda | XINHUA | As the world grapples with COVID-19, conservationists in Africa are striving to contain rising wildlife poaching, which has been worsened by the pandemic. When the pandemic hit the continent about seven months ago, many countries closed their borders and limited domestic movement. This brought the …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA | The African Union (AU) Commission on Sunday called for addressing non-tariff barriers in order to realize the major aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. “The African continent is about to become the world’s largest free trade area. If not addressed, non-tariff …

Khartoum, Sudan | XINHUA | After a full year of negotiations, the Sudanese government and armed groups on Saturday signed a final peace deal in South Sudan’s capital Juba to end armed conflicts. The signing ceremony which was broadcast live by Sudan’s official TV, was attended by South Sudan’s President Salva …

Ramallah, Palestine  | XINHUA |   A senior Palestinian official said on Saturday that Israel is implementing its plan of annexing large parts of the West Bank by intensifying settlement’s expansion. “Israel’s plan to build 5,400 new units is an actual implementation of the rejected annexation plan, and Israel haven’t stopped …