1Bipin Rawat: India's top general dies in helicopter crashWednesday, December 8, 2021

India's top military commander has been killed in a helicopter crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the country's Air Force says. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others died after the Mi-17V5 helicopter came down in hills near Coonoor city on Wednesday morning. One survivor is being treated... Read More

2Zimbabwe confirms presence of Omicron variantFriday, December 3, 2021

Zimbabwe has confirmed the presence of the Omicron coronavirus in the country. Speaking on state TV, Vice-President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga said that it followed genome sequencing but gave no further details. New Covid cases rose sharply this week, with 712 new cases being recorded on Wednesday and 399 on Tuesday. On... Read More

3US government shutdown averted hours before deadlineFriday, December 3, 2021

The US Congress has passed a stopgap bill to fund federal agencies until 18 February, avoiding a costly government shutdown over the festive season. In a 69-28 vote, the Senate backed the measure approved earlier by the House of Representatives. President Joe Biden is now expected to sign it into law. "I am glad that,... Read More

4Omicron: Biden tightens travel rules amid new Omicron casesFriday, December 3, 2021

President Joe Biden has unveiled stricter Covid-19 travel rules as the US confirmed a handful of cases of the Omicron variant from coast to coast. Mr Biden said his plan "doesn't include shutdowns or lockdowns" and does not expand vaccine mandates. Cases have been detected in California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York... Read More

5US lifts sanctions on BurundiFriday, November 19, 2021

The US has ended sanctions imposed against Burundi six years ago, citing reforms in the country. A US statement noted that President Joe Biden had revoked an executive order that authorised the sanctions. It acknowledged last year’s elections that brought in President Évariste Ndayishimiye and the reforms he has pursued... Read More

6SA power company says it's the victim of sabotageFriday, November 19, 2021

South Africa's state-owned electricity provider, Eskom, says it's found clear evidence of sabotage at one of its power plants. It says one of its high capacity pylons was brought down when all eight of its support rods were cut. Claims of sabotage at Eskom's fleet of ageing coal-fired plants aren't new, but the company... Read More

7Nigeria should stop denying truth about Lekki - rights groupFriday, November 19, 2021

Rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Nigerian authorities to take measures to ensure the protection of civilians against abuses by security forces. It follows the submissionto the Lagos state government of a report into how the police and army handled anti-police brutality protests at Lagos' Lekki... Read More

8South Africa is a very violent country - ministerFriday, November 19, 2021

South Africa's latest crime statistics are "as alarming as the previous quarter's figures", Police Minister Bheki Cele has said when presenting the numbers. According to the government's Twitter account, he said that the data for the period between July and September this year shows that South Africa is "a very violent... Read More

9Covid booster doses will be offered to over-40sMonday, November 15, 2021

All over-40s in the UK will be offered a third dose of a Covid vaccine, after advice from the government scientists. The move would top up protection and help limit the spread of the virus over winter. Three doses cuts the risk of infection by more than 93%, according to new data from the UK Health Security Agency. The... Read More

10SA's FW de Klerk to be cremated in private funeralMonday, November 15, 2021

South Africa's last white president FW de Klerk, who died at 85 last week, will be cremated in a private ceremony on Sunday, according to his foundation. “The FW de Klerk Foundation wishes to announce that FW de Klerk’s cremation and funeral will take place on Sunday, 21 November,” it said in statement. “It... Read More