Libya welcomes back tourists after years of war

European tourists, escorted by security personnel, visit the old town of Ghadames, a desert oasis some 650 kilometres southwest of the Libyan capital Tripoli GHADAMES (Libya), Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya has hosted its first group of foreign tourists in a decade, with an excursion to an oasis town deep…

Covid-19: 4.9 million Kenyans so far vaccinated

NAIROBI, Oct 29 (NNN-KBC) — The ministry of Health disclosed Saturday that a total of 4,902,772 vaccines had so far been administered across the country. Of these, 3,493,570 were partially vaccinated while those fully vaccinated were 1,414,202. According to the Health Ministry Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, the uptake of the…

Kenya’s plan to set up vaccine factory gets boost from Korea

Kenya’s quest to start manufacturing human vaccines got a major boost from Korea which has pledged to support the initiative. NAIROBI, Oct 29 (NNN-KBC) — The Exim Bank of Korea Friday announced it will fund the establishment of the Human Vaccine Production facility as part of Kenya’s ongoing efforts to…

Covid-19: Moscow shops and restaurants shut in partial lockdown as record deaths, infections reported

Cafes have now shut for 11 days in Moscow  MOSCOW, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Shops, restaurants and schools have shut in Moscow in a partial lockdown, as Russia battles record Covid deaths and infections. Only essential shops like supermarkets and pharmacies are allowed to open in the capital, while food…

Covid-19: Delta wave slowed US economic growth in third quarter

   WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The US economic expansion slowed dramatically in the third quarter to an annual rate of just two percent as consumer spending was choked by resurgent Covid-19 infections, the White House said.   The spread of the Delta variant of the virus over the summer…

Brazil emissions rose in 2020 despite pandemic: study

   BRASILIA, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions rose by 9.5 percent last year, mostly because of deforestation, a report said, making it one of the only major economies not to cut pollution as the pandemic hit.   Even as worldwide emissions fell seven percent in 2020 —…

Covid-19: Uganda to reopen schools in January, after almost two years

 KAMPALA, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ugandan schools, closed since March last year owing to the pandemic, will reopen in January regardless of currently low vaccination uptake, President Yoweri Museveni said.   “Be informed that the schools will be opened in January and the rest of the economy will be opened…

DR Congo army kills 27 rebels, loses four soldiers

 BUNIA (DR Congo), Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Congolese army said that it had lost four soldiers and killed 27 militiamen in two days of fighting in several villages in the northeast of the country.    The fighting took place on Tuesday and Thursday in two villages in Djugu territory…

Covid-19: WHO wants $23.4 bn for Covid plan

  GENEVA, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization said it needed $23.4 billion over the next 12 months for its plan to conquer Covid-19, urging the G20 to show some leadership and pay up.    WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus bluntly told the Group of 20 global powers, meeting…

DR Congo to open diplomatic mission in Jerusalem: president

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem JERUSALEM, Oct 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will open a diplomatic and trade representative in Jerusalem. Felix Tshisekedi, president of the DRC and the current African Union (AU) chairperson, held a meeting…