Budget 2018-19

  Omicron was first detected in southern Africa last month and has triggered global alarm as governments fear another surge in infections South Africa is preparing its hospitals for more admissions, as the  Omicron coronavirus variant  pushes the country into a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday. Omicron was first detected in southern Africa last month and has triggered global alarm as governments fear another surge in infections. South Africa’s daily infections surged last week to more than 16,000 on Friday from roughly 2,300 on Monday. Ramaphosa said in a weekly newsletter that Omicron appeared to be dominating new cases in most of the country’s nine provinces and urged more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “ South Africa  now has sufficient supplies of vaccines, …vaccination is essential for our economic recovery because as more people are vaccinated more areas of economic activity will be opened up,” he said. The gov...

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a warning against the “serious” possibility of a complete economic collapse in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Afghanistan Crisis:  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a warning against the “serious” possibility of a complete economic collapse in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Guterres made the remarks here on Monday while convening a high-level ministerial meeting on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, reports Xinhua news agency. He highlighted the acute and urgent need for funding support and action in the country. “The people of Afghanistan need a lifeline. After decades of war, suffering and insecurity, they face perhaps their most perilous hour,” he said during his opening remarks at the meeting. “Let us be clear: This conference is not simply about what we will give to the people of Afghanistan. It is about what we owe,” he added. The UN chief said that as of today, one in three Afgha...