Two Highly Contagious Coronavirus Variants Appear in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG – South African officials say two highly contagious variants of coronavirus are now present in the country, as Africa’s worst-hit nation prepares for a possible new onslaught of cases.Officials from the National Institute for Communicable …
Fifteen Killed in Landslide at Guinea Gold Mine
A landslide at an artisanal gold mine has killed at least 15 people in northeastern Guinea, the government said on Sunday. The disaster took place on Saturday in remote Siguiri province, 800 km (500 miles) from the capital Conakry. The zone holds some …
African Activists Welcome US Support of COVID Vaccine Waiver
JOHANNESBURG – African nations have welcomed news that the U.S. supports a proposal to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines. But, they warn, the road ahead is long and full of obstacles.Health experts and activists say the deci…
EU Calls on US, Others to Export Their COVID-19 Vaccines
PORTO, PORTUGAL – The European Commission called on the United States and other major COVID-19 vaccine producers Friday to export what they make, as the European Union does, rather than talk about waiving intellectual property (IP) rights to the shots….
UN Gives $65 Million in Aid to Ethiopia, Tigray
The United Nations is disbursing $65 million for humanitarian needs in Ethiopia, $40 million of which will go to the aid operation in the northern Tigray region.“Ethiopian lives and livelihoods are being destroyed by drought, and children are suffering…
Africa Risks Resurgence of Coronavirus, WHO Warns
African countries risk a new wave of coronavirus infections because of the slow rollout of life-saving vaccines and the circulation of new variants, the World Health Organization warns. The WHO reports the epidemic curve in Africa has plateaued for six…