Tanzania to acquire spray plane to fight locusts’ invasions

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — The government of Tanzania has set aside 3 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 1.3 million U.S. dollars) for buying a spray plane to fight invasions of locusts, the Minister for Agriculture, Adolf Mkenda, said. Mkenda told a press conference in the capital Dodoma the…

Covid-19: South African president warns of fourth wave as Omicron spreads to all provinces

People sit outside a bar on a commercial street in Cape Town, South Africa JOHANNESBURG, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — With the Omicron variant now present in all provinces of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has raised the possibility that the country could enter the fourth wave soon if new cases…

AU engages Gambian stakeholders ahead of the Presidential Election

AU reps met with Gambian president Adama Barrow (middle) BANJUL, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, paid a three-day working visit to The Gambia ahead of Dec 4, 2021, Presidential Election.During a meeting with President Adama Barrow, the…

COVID-positive Czech president appoints new PM from plexiglass cubicle

Czech President Milos Zeman, separated by a transparent wall after testing positive for the coronavirus disease, appoints Civic Democratic Party leader Petr Fiala as the new prime minister, at the Lany Chateau, near Prague PRAGUE, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Czech President Milos Zeman appointed the leader of a centre-right alliance…

Opposition, ruling party claim Honduras election win, as turnout fuels hope of change

Xiomara Castro, presidential candidate for the opposition Libre Party TEGUCIGALPA, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The opposition and the ruling party both claimed victory in Honduras’ presidential election on Sunday as strong turnout lifted the leftist contender’s hopes of ending a dozen years of conservative National Party rule. If opposition standard-bearer…

France says it will not be held hostage by British politics on migration

Protesters hold ‘Refugees Welcome’ placards during a demonstration outside Downing Street, London CALAIS (France), Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France is ready for a serious discussion with Britain on issues relating to illegal migration, but will not be held hostage to London’s domestic politics, the country’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.…

Covid-19: EU needs to buy time on Omicron variant: EU’s von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen RIGA (Latvia), Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union needs to buy time to assess fully the implications of the new Omicron coronavirus variant and to prepare, notably by pushing for greater vaccination rates, the president of the European Commission said. First discovered in South Africa,…

Covid-19: Botswana says 15 more cases of Omicron variant detected in country

Buildings are seen in the Central Business District (CBD) in the capital Gaborone, Botswana GABORONE, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Botswana’s health minister Edwin Dikoloti said the country had detected 15 more cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant, adding to the four confirmed cases it declared on Friday. The minister applauded…

Covid-19: WHO says it is not yet clear if Omicron causes more severe disease

Travellers read a flight information notice board at Cape Town International Airport as restrictions on international flights take effect GENEVA, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization (WHO) said that it is not yet clear if the new Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible compared to other SARS-CoV-2 variants or if…

Covid-19: Dozens test positive on South Africa-Netherlands flights

 AMSTERDAM, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sixty-one people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa have tested positive for Covid-19, Dutch officials say. They have been placed in isolation at a hotel near Schiphol airport. They were among some 600 passengers held for several hours after arrival while…