Kenya: Aviation workers issue one-week strike ultimatum as talks collapse

NAIROBI, Jan 9 (NNN-KBC) —Operations across the country’s airports could be grounded in the next one week after salary talks between the management of Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) collapsed. Following the move, the union has issued a one-week ultimatum to the KAA management to effect…

West African leaders to discuss Mali crisis in key summit

ACCRA, Jan 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — West African leaders will gather Sunday to discuss Mali’s political crisis, with the military junta submitting a new timeframe for a transition back to civilian rule at the last minute after its first proposal was rejected.    The extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of…

Covid-19: More than 100,000 march in France against vaccine requirements

PARIS, Jan 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 100,000 people across France protested Saturday over what they say are government plans to further restrict the rights of the unvaccinated, days after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to “piss off” those refusing the jab.    The turnout was four times higher than the…

South Africa should step up COVID-19 vaccinations, President Ramaphosa says

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa should step up COVID-19 vaccinations, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, urging members of his governing African National Congress (ANC) party to fight vaccine hesitancy in communities. Nearly 40 per cent of South Africa’s adult population has been fully vaccinated, higher than in many other…

US, Russia hold high-stakes talks on Ukraine war fears

Soldiers from Poland, Britain, US and Romania take part in a joint military exercise at the military training ground in Bemowo Piskie GENEVA, Jan 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and Russia open talks on Sunday in Geneva on soaring tensions over Ukraine, with Moscow seeking a wide-ranging new security arrangement…

Brazil cliff collapse kills at least seven

Rescue teams including a dive squad and members of the Brazilian Navy rushed to Furnas Lake in Minas Gerais state BRASILIA, Jan 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least seven people were killed and three were missing after a cliff collapsed onto boats carrying tourists on a lake in Brazil, authorities said…

AU chief commends release of opposition political figures in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Saturday commended the release of senior opposition political figures detained in Ethiopia. “The Chairperson welcomes this important gesture of appeasement of the political situation in Ethiopia,” an AU statement read. The statement came…

Tanzanian wildlife authorities to auction 75 tourist hunting blocks

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Tanzania’s wildlife authorities announced on Saturday the auctioning of 75 tourist hunting blocks in 2022. The Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) said in a statement that the tourist hunting blocks will be auctioned in game controlled areas, open areas and game reserves. The…

UN launches political process to end crisis in Sudan

Protesters march during a rally against military rule, following last month’s coup in Khartoum KHARTOUM, Jan 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations (UN) on Saturday announced the launch of a UN-facilitated intra-Sudanese political process to end the political crisis in the country. Volker Perthes, head of UN Integrated Transition Assistance…

Armed bandits kill at least 58 people in attacks in NW Nigeria: official

Members of Nigeria’s security forces in Zamfara ABUJA, Jan 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least 58 people were killed by armed bandits who attacked villages across two local government areas in northwest Nigeria’s Zamfara state, an official said. Ibrahim Bello Zauma, a spokesperson for the governor of Zamfara state Bello Matawalle,…