AFRICA

LATAKIA, Syria, | XINHUA |   Charred trees and burnt soil filled the horizon while white smoke filled the air, telling the story of wildfires that engulfed areas in Syria over the past 48 hours, turning the once picture-perfect sceneries into sad stories of dead crops. Farmers and families are in …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Kenya’s exports to countries in East African Community (EAC) have surpassed the pre-COVID-19 period, with the pandemic seemingly catalyzing trade. The exports to Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda recovered from May, sustaining an upward trajectory to August, new economic data from government statistics agency released on …

Juba, South Sudan | Xinhua | South Sudan’s government on Friday said it will soon be changing its currency in a bid to shore up its economy following continued depreciation of the pound against the U.S. dollar. Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information and Broadcasting said the decision came after the …

Lusaka, Zambia | Xinhua | The introduction of the Chinese language in Zambia and other African countries schools should not be misinterpreted, an expert on international relations has said. Aaron Siwale, lecturer of Political Science at the University of Zambia, said the introduction of Chinese language and culture in African schools …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Africa can learn from China’s efforts to conserve its wildlife resources, a pan-African wildlife conservation body said on Friday. Fred Kumah, vice president of external affairs at African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), told Xinhua in Nairobi that China has used a combination of conservation measures and community …

  Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The East African Community (EAC) is losing revenue due to low investments in value addition of horticulture and leather produced in the region, says a report released on Thursday. According to the report by East African Business Council (EABC), a private business lobby of …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday sounded alarm over a spike in mental ailments in Africa due to COVID-19 related social and economic disruptions. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said the pandemic had worsened the continent’s mental health crisis amid lockdowns, job …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | Africa should close the inequality gaps if the continent is set to realize recovery targets aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), said on Thursday. “If we do not find ways of closing …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Passenger numbers and cargo volumes on Kenya’s standard gauge railway (SGR) trains maintained a steady climb in August, pointing to increased demand for the service following the reopening of the country as COVID-19 cases declined. Some 32,641 passengers used the SGR passenger train in August, …

Kigali, Rwanda | XINHUA | A team of military experts under the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM), a Great Lakes regional military framework, on Monday investigated 19 Burundian fighters’ illegal entry into Rwanda, the Rwandan military said. The experts, with the mission to verify and report back to EJVM Command on …