South Africa
The World Health Organization today threw its weight behind complaints that Southern African nations are being unfairly targeted since the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Several nations have imposed travel bans on Southern African countries since South Africa announced the detection of Omicron. “Travel restrictions may play a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID-19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods,” WHO’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the travel bans are “scientifically unjustified” and asked that they be urgently reversed.
More from BBC here.
Sudan-Ethiopia
Sudan says six of its soldiers were killed in clashes with the Ethiopian military a day after it accused Ethiopian forces and allied militias of attacking al-Fashaqa, a disputed agricultural area on the border between the two nations. The region has been disputed for decades but this most recent flare-up is concerning, with both Ethiopia and Sudan going through turbulent times. Ethiopia is embroiled in a year-long civil war and Sudan is dealing with the chaotic aftermath of a military coup.
More from AP here.
Iran
Iran and major world powers are gearing up for talks in Austria on Monday, aimed at getting Tehran and the US back into a nuclear agreement that Donald Trump yanked Washington out of in 2018. The major sticking point is likely to be Iran’s request that all US and EU sanctions against it be lifted, including those imposed for reasons other than its nuclear program. Analysts see that as an unlikely prospect.
More from France 24 here.