South Africa Parliament: Alleged Arsonist Arrested Over Massive Fire

Parliament

Footage from the scene showed a plume of black smoke filling the sky, with huge flames coming out…  EKO HOT BLOG reports that a man has been arrested after a large fire severely damaged the Houses of Parliament in the South African city of Cape Town. A police spokesperson said the 49-year-old man was facing … Read more

Fire Tears Through Parliament Building In South Africa

South African Parliament

It comes hours after Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s state funeral at St George’s Cathedral, near Parliament EKO HOT BLOG reports that a large fire is raging at the Houses of Parliament in the South African city of Cape Town. Video footage shows a plume of black smoke filling the sky, with huge flames coming out from … Read more

Body of Prominent Nigerian Businessman Murdered in South Africa Arrives Lagos

Nigerian Businessman

Body of Prominent Nigerian Businessman Murdered In South Africa, Solarin, Arrives Nigeria For Burial EKO HOT BLOG reports that the remains of prominent Nigerian businessman, Olusola Solarin who was shot dead by robbers in Pretoria, South Africa have arrived in Nigeria. According to a report by SaharaReporters, the corpse was repatriated to the country on … Read more

South Africa Suggests Omicron Wave May Have Peaked

Omicron

South Africa has recorded almost 3.5 million Covid-19 cases and more than 90,000 deaths during the pandemic EKO HOT BLOG reports that South Africa has lifted overnight curfew rules, with officials saying the country may have passed the peak of its fourth wave of Omicron Covid-19 infections. A government statement said the Omicron variant, while … Read more

Omicron: Biden to Reverse South Africa, Others’ Travel Ban

Travel ban

Omicron: Biden to reverse South Africa, others’ travel ban EKO HOT BLOG reports that President Joe Biden formally announced Tuesday he will lift a ban this week on travel from South Africa and other countries in the region, imposed due to fear of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. “The travel restrictions… are no longer necessary to … Read more

South Africa Begins One Week Mourning of Anti-Apartheid Icon, Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu

South Africa Begins One Week Mourning Of Anti-Apartheid Giant, Desmond Tutu EKO HOT BLOG reports that South Africa has begun a week of mourning for the late anti-apartheid campaigner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was reported that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate passed away on Sunday, aged 90. AFP reports that South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, … Read more

Buhari Mourns Tutu, Says His Life Was “A Message On Love & Forgiveness”

Buhari

Buhari condoled with the late cleric’s wife, Leah Tutu, the Christian community globally…  EKO HOT BLOG reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has paid tribute to the late South African anti-apartheid hero, Desmond Tutu, describing him as one whose life was a message on love and happiness. According to Buhari, the legacies of Archbishop Tutu who … Read more

Omicron: US To Reverse Travel Ban On Southern Africa

Travel ban

The official said the curbs were no longer necessary amid a US explosion of cases… EKO HOT BLOG reports that the US is ready to lift a travel ban it imposed on eight southern African nations over a new coronavirus strain. The White House said the 29 November measure, affecting South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, … Read more

S’African Omicron Hospitalisations Rate Far Lower Than With Previous Variants – scientists remain cautious

S'African Omicron

S’African Omicron hospitalisations rates far lower than with previous variants – but scientists remain cautious EKO HOT BLOG reports that South Africa delivered some positive news on the omicron coronavirus variant on Friday, reporting a much lower rate of hospital admissions and signs that the wave of infections may be peaking. Research indicates that despite Omicron’s increased … Read more

Canada Reverses Travel Restrictions On Nigeria, Nine Other Countries

Canada

…the lifting of the travel ban would take effect from 11:59 pm on Saturday.  EKO HOT BLOG reports that Canada, on Friday, announced the reversal of a ban on foreign travellers from Nigeria and nine other African countries. The country also reimposed testing, warning that the Omicron variant of Covid-19 risks quickly overwhelming hospitals. Apart … Read more

Ex-South African President Jacob Zuma Ordered To Return To Jail After Medical Parole

Jacob Zuma

He began medical parole in September, and in the same month the court dismissed his attempt to overturn the sentence EKO HOT BLOG reports that a South African high court has ordered former president Jacob Zuma to return to jail after setting aside a decision to release him on medical parole. The 79-year-old is serving … Read more

BREAKING: UK Removes Nigeria, 10 Others From Red List

Red List

Currently, all UK arrivals from red list countries must pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days EKO HOT BLOG reports that the British government has said that all 11 countries will be removed from the UK’s travel red list from 4am on Wednesday. Nigeria alongside Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, … Read more

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa Tests Positive For COVID-19

Ramaphosa

…Ramaphosa says his own infection serves as a caution to all people in the country to be vaccinated and remain vigilant…  EKO HOT BLOG reports that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive on Sunday, the office of the presidency said in a statement. He has delegated … Read more

Some Countries Are Stingy & Unwilling To Give Out Vaccines – Ramaphosa

Vaccines

…he said its disappointing that some countries are still being stingy and unwilling to give out the jabs… EKO HOT BLOG reports that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said it is greedy of nations who have more than enough to be stingy with vaccines. Ramaphosa disclosed this at an ongoing peace and security conference … Read more

[COVID-19] Don’t Panic About Omicron – WHO

Monkeypox

Reports suggest Omicron has been found in close to 40 countries EKO HOT BLOG reports that the world should not panic about the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 but it should prepare, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. Speaking at a conference on Friday, top WHO scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the situation now was … Read more

Omicron: AU Condemns Travel Ban On African Countries

Omicron

Mahamat described the travel ban as stigmatisation which could not be justified scientifically or on the grounds of reason logically EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has said the travel ban on southern African countries due to COVID-19 Omicron variant is a form of stigmatisation against … Read more

US Confirms First Omicron Case In Traveler Returning From South Africa

Omicron

According to the CDC, the person returned from South Africa on November 22, and all close contacts have tested negative EKO HOT BLOG reports that the United States on Wednesday announced its first confirmed case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant had been detected in California, in a fully vaccinated traveler who had recently returned from … Read more

Omicron: Canada Imposes Travel Ban On Nigeria, Others

Canada

…foreign nationals who had been to these countries in the previous 14 days would be temporarily banned from entering Canada. EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Canadian government has imposed a travel ban on Nigeria in a swift move to curb the spread of the newly-discovered Omicron COVID-19 variant. The announcement, which was made on … Read more

[JUST IN] Nigeria Reports First Case Of Omicron COVID Variant

Omicron

…the cases were detected in two passengers who came into the country from South Africa. EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed two cases of the Omicron COVID variant in the country. A statement signed by the NCDC Director-General on Wednesday, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said the two cases … Read more

[COVID-19] NCDC Monitoring Omicron, Advises Nigerians To Get Vaccinated

COVID-19

The new variant “is considered highly transmissible”… EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Sunday said it was monitoring emerging evidence on the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, which was first recently identified in Southern Africa. The new variant “is considered highly transmissible” and has already triggered a new wave … Read more