The Central Bank of Nigeria granted Airtel Nigeria the approval in principle to operate the super-agent network in Nigeria.
Airtel would be able to create an agent network that could service the customers of licenced Nigerian banks, Payment Service Banks (PSB) and licenced mobile money operators in Nigeria.
The approval came a few days after the CBN granted Airtel and MTN approval-in-principle to operate as PSBs in Nigeria.
Airtel Africa in a statement says under the super-agent licence, they would be able to create an agent network that can service the customers of licensed Nigerian banks, Payment service banks and licenced mobile money operators in Nigeria.

The World Bank has stated that the destruction caused by the Boko Haram sect caused economic activities in the north-eastern part of the country to decline by 50 per cent.
The Bank noted that Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states which are in the Lake Chad region saw economic activities decline from 10 to 14 per cent between 2009 and 2013, adding that the region has recorded a 50 per cent decline in activities from 2018.
Lead Economist, World Bank and co-author of the report, Mr Marco Hernandez says Boko Haram is not just on those places where insurgency happens, it also affects neighbouring parts for where the actual attack happens as well.
The bank called for enhanced trade, improved infrastructure to move people goods and services, improved governance and management of natural resources.

The Austrian government has ordered a nationwide lockdown for people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, a measure aimed at slowing the fast spread of the disease in the country.
The move prohibits unvaccinated individuals older than age 12 from leaving their homes except for basic activities such as working, grocery shopping, going for a walk – or getting vaccinated.
Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg says it is their job as the government of Austria to protect the people.
Authorities are concerned about rising deaths and that hospital staff will no longer be able to handle the growing influx of COVID-19 patients.
The lockdown affects about 2 million people in the country of 8.9 million people.

China donated 500,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to war-torn Syria, which has one of the world’s lowest inoculation rates and what the UN called an alarming rise in cases.
The latest shipment raises to almost two million the number of such deliveries to Syria in a week.
United Nations under-secretary-general Martin Griffiths warned that less than two per cent of Syria’s population have been vaccinated and cases of infection are spiking
Health Minister Hassan Ghabash praised the latest donation of another Chinese vaccine, Sinopharm.
Ghabash says his health services have vaccinated more than 600,000 people and urged more Syrians to come forward for their jabs.

The United States urged Cuban authorities to lift a ban on protests ahead of planned anti-government demonstrations, the State Department said in a statement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on the Cuban government to respect Cubans’ rights, by allowing them to peacefully assemble and use their voices without fear of government reprisal or violence, and by keeping Internet and telecommunication lines open for the free exchange of information.
Blinken hit out at the Cuban government’s crackdown on the protests and condemned intimidation tactics of blocking protests, firing opposition supporters and threatening them with detention ahead of Monday’s demonstrations.

200 nations came together on a global deal to combat climate change after two weeks of painful negotiation but fell short of what science says is needed to contain dangerous temperature rises.
Rich countries stood accused of failing at the COP26 summit in Glasgow to deliver much-needed finance to vulnerable states that are at risk of drought, rising seas, fire and storms.
Britain’s COP26 president Alok Sharma says It is now decision time adding that the choices set are vitally important.
China and India however insisted that language on fossil fuels be weakened in the final summit decision text.

The South African government says it is distancing itself from a decision by the Miss South Africa pageant organisers to participate in the annual Miss Universe contest, due to be held next month in Israel.
The decision came after growing calls for the reigning Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, to boycott the pageant that is scheduled to take place in Eilat on December 12.
The arts and culture ministry says it has proven difficult to persuade the Miss SA pageant organisers to reconsider their decision to partake in the Miss Universe event,
The government, therefore, withdraws its support following the organisers’ intransigence and disregard of advice.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says that he fears that Ethiopia could implode if the civil war continues.
He told journalists in Washington DC that out and out conflict could lead to the implosion of Ethiopia and spill over into other countries in the region, and that would be disastrous for the Ethiopian people".
He says the other path was a ceasefire and negations - adding that the US was backing the African Union mediator, ex-Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Mr Blinken is expected to leave for Kenya on Monday, where he will be discussing the situation in Ethiopia. He will also be going to Nigeria on his first official trip to Africa as Secretary of State.

The African Union's special envoy to Ethiopia, Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned that dialogue cannot deliver peace to Ethiopia while the war continues to intensify.
Mr Obasanjo says he remained hopeful about possible talks but that all sides needed to stop fighting and find some common ground.
The Tigrayans say there can be no dialogue until the federal authorities allow aid into Tigray, where tens of thousands are on the brink of famine.
The government says the Tigrayans must recognise its legitimacy and withdraw from the regions of Amhara and Afar.

The World Health Organisation says that more than 19 million persons are currently living with diabetes with the number expected to grow to 47 million by 2025.
The global health organisation has asked governments in Africa to invest more funds in the prevention and management of diabetes in order to arrest its destructive impact on people’s lives.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti urged governments to also invest in making essential products such as insulin, blood glucometers and test strips available to all communities.