Cairo, Egypt | XINHUA | Egypt confirmed on Monday that it will participate in a tripartite video ministerial meeting between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the Ethiopian grand hydropower dam built over the Nile River, said the Egyptian water ministry in a statement. Arranged by South Africa, the current chair …
Read More »S. African president reaffirms commitment to empowering women
Cape Town, South Africa | XINHUA | President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the empowerment of women, saying it is one of national priorities and central to the country’s development strategies. “By unleashing the economic potential of women, we are unleashing the potential of our economies …
Read More »Africa’s COVID-19 death toll passes 23,000 mark as total COVID-19 cases surpass 1.047 mln
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Monday revealed the death toll due to illnesses related to the COVID-19 pandemic rose to 23, 253. The continent-wide COVID-19 related death toll registered an increase of 287 deaths compared to Sunday’s 22,966 death …
Read More »COVID-19 poses serious impact on Africa’s health, security and economy: AU
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | The African Union (AU) on Monday said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has posed serious impacts on the African continent’s health, security, and socio-economic conditions. “The present COVID-19 pandemic has serious health, security, and economic impact for the continent,” the AU said in a statement issued on …
Read More »Seven nations vying for five UN Security Council seats
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN General Assembly on Wednesday will elect five new members of the Security Council for 2021 and 2022, with battles underway for the Western and African seats. Kenya and Djibouti are facing off for one seat, while in the Western bloc, three nations …
Read More »African economies hard hit by coronavirus pandemic
Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Sub-Saharan Africa has not been as badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic as some other parts of the world, but the economy is being pummelled. Here’s a look at the main issues. – Perfect storm recession – For the first time in 25 years sub-Saharan …
Read More »Africa ‘elbowed out’ in quest for tools to fight COVID-19: AU
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | African Union officials said Thursday the continent is struggling to compete with rich countries for testing kits and other equipment necessary to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “We need aid for testing equipment,” Kwesi Quartey, the deputy chair of the African Union Commission, told …
Read More »As rich nations battle COVID-19, anxiety grows for low-income states
Paris, France | AFP | As Europe and the United States struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic, aid groups warn that without measures millions could die in low-income countries and war zones such as Syria and Yemen, where hygiene conditions are already dire. The outbreak has infected some 580,000 people …
Read More »African leaders grapple with failure to ‘silence the guns’
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Seven years ago, amid extravagant celebrations marking the African Union’s 50th anniversary, the continent’s heads of state declared they would “end all wars in Africa by 2020.” But as leaders travel to Addis Ababa this weekend for the latest summit of the 55-member bloc — …
Read More »Cabinet approves signing of several air service agreements
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda will be signing several bilateral air service agreements with different countries, a move that would give her access to the air space of more countries. According to a brief on Tuesday of what transpired in cabinet, “the agreements will put Uganda at equal legal …
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