Newscast - Africa

Israel’s health ministry recommended banning Israelis from travelling to the United States and added several European countries to its Covid red list, aimed at containing the Omicron variant’s spread. 
Barring US travel for Israeli citizens and residents would mark a significant step for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government, given the hundreds of thousands of dual nationals and close ties between the countries.
Bennett says Israel was in the midst of its fifth wave of Covid-19.
Bennett reiterated that he would continue to restrict travel in order to avoid further lockdowns.
He said Israel had gained precious time by curbing travel immediately after the Omicron variant was detected in South Africa last month.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey is aiming to deepen economic and military ties in Africa and called for a seat representing the continent at the UN Security Council.
Heads of state from 16 African nations, along with more than 102 ministers and representatives of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States are attending the summit in Istanbul.
The Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit by Turkey is aimed at boosting ties with the continent.
Istanbul hosted business leaders and dozens of ministers from African states for a summit aimed specifically at increasing trade.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has ordered an international investigation into abuses carried out during the conflict in Ethiopia.
The European Union had called for a special sitting of the council in Geneva after rights groups said violations committed during more than a year of conflict might amount to war crimes.
The UN rights council again warned that all sides in the civil war were committing severe violations.
It says there was a risk to the entire region and called on all parties to pull back.

South Africa says it will be donating around two million Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 jabs to other African countries.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government wants to show solidarity with other countries on the continent. 
He says the only way in which they can prevent Covid-19 transmission and protect economies and societies on our continent, is to successfully immunise a critical mass of the African population with safe and effective vaccines.
He says the value of the donation is $18m and will be made available to other countries starting from 2022 through the African Medical Suppliers Platform.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, have called for uniformity in the minimum standard for the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws operated by both the federal and state governments.
Malami commended the Center for Socio-Legal Studies for coming up with a compelling need to lay down workable modes and opened up the avenue to receive inputs from stakeholders including local and international agencies in the evaluation process to get a document that is workable and acceptable to all.
The AGF assured stakeholders of his cooperation and support in the realization of the laudable initiative.

The Police Service Commission is expected to this week deliberate on a probe panel report on the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari, submitted to it by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Alkali Usman.
The IGP had submitted the probe panel report on the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, to the PSC.
A member of the PSC, Mr Braimoh Adogame Austin, says the commission would deliberate on the issue this week.
Kyari was alleged to have benefitted from the proceeds of a $1.1 million internet fraud.

The Ijaw National Congress has condemned former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent comment on resource control at an event in Abuja.
Obasanjo says resources in any part of the country should be enjoyed by all Nigerians.
The President of the INC, Benjamin Okaba, however, condemned the former President for his remark against the National Secretary of the group,
He explained that the former President in an ungentlemanly manner tackled Wodu at the event.
He added that the ethnic nationality will not be intimidated by the antics of Obasanjo to keep silent on the issues affecting their people and the Niger Delta region at large.
Okaba stated that the INC considers Obasanjo’s claims on resource ownership as pernicious, provocative, and wicked as it negates the decades-long derivation principle which was pegged at 100 per cent in 1946.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says that the Abuja-Kaduna train service generates at least three hundred million nairas for the country every month.
Amaechi says his ministry is beginning to contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
He disclosed that the government is planning to put about 16 trains on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line, stressing that this will increase revenue generation from that axis.
The minister says the country is capable of meeting its loan requirements.

The Indian government has cleared a proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 as women’s rights activists fear the move could lead to a real disaster.
The report says the decision to raise the age was made during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The government is likely to introduce an amendment to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and consequently bring amendments to the Special Marriage Act and personal laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the proposal, saying the government is constantly concerned about the health of daughters and sisters.

The Biden administration has imposed trade sanctions on several Chinese companies and institutions, citing national security and China’s oppression of its largely Muslim Uighur minority population.
The US Commerce Department says that it was blacklisting a number of Chinese technology companies, accusing the government in Beijing of advancing high-tech surveillance on the Uighurs.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo says the scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives.
The secretary added that unfortunately, the People’s Republic of China is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups.