Mix-and-match vaccines approved in South Africa

 South Africa’s health ministry says people over the age of 18 will now be allowed to “mix” their vaccines.

It means, for example, that those who took the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be eligible to receive a booster dose of Pfizer.

The new regulations mean there is now a shorter waiting period between the first and second dose.

From Wednesday, the interval between the first and the second doses of the Pfizer jab will be reduced from six weeks to three weeks.

There will now also be a shorter waiting period of two months for a booster dose for those who’ve taken the Johnson & Johnson shot.

Until recently scientists around the world have been divided on the merits and safety of mixing vaccines.

It’s been done in parts of Europe and in the US.

About 31 million doses have been administered in South Africa so far, and officials hope these latest measures will boost uptake.

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Ngana Zenza Foundation focuses on social solidarity

 Luanda – With the objective of developing communities, create and promote multi-sector projects, as well as promote the well-being of families, the Angolan First Lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, this Saturday night officially launched the project Ngana Zenza Foundation.

The project is intended to train and upgrade people, mobilise society around more integrating responses, with a view to supporting the poverty reduction programme in Angola.  

 

Actually set in motion two years ago, the Ngana Zenza Foundation comprises the Dikota Platform, the Integrated and Community Development Project of Toco, and the Tata Uhayele project.

 

This official launching gala - which was attended by the Head of State, João Lourenço, and other state personalities – was marked by different cultural moments, with highlight on the performances of the tenor Ebo, the singer/songwriter Matias Damásio, and the symphonic orchestra Kapossoca. 

Angolan junior women's handball team defeated Zambia 57-22

 Luanda - Angolan junior women's handball team defeated Zambia 57-22 in the African Handball championship’s Group A second round match played Sunday in the Republic of Guinea.

The second victory enabled the Angolans to secured their presence in the semi-finals, although there’s still one game left in the group stage against Egypt scheduled for Tuesday.

With four points, Angola beat Burkina Faso 42-16 at the opening match on Saturday.

Angola attends regional security meeting

 Luanda – Angola will attend the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework agreement for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region, scheduled for Tuesday in Kinshasa, DR Congo.

The Tuesday event, expected to gathers heads of diplomacy from member countries, including Angola, is a preparatory meeting for the  Heads of State and Government that will take place on February 24.

Signed in February 2013 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the mechanism comprises Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Central African Republic (CAR), Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

In the wake of the ministers' session, the capital of DR Congo hosted a two-day Meeting of the Technical Support Committee of the Regional Supervisory Mechanism of the Framework Agreement, the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

The note states that the Technical Committee meeting adopted the documents to be submitted to the ministerial session that will prepare the 10th High Level Meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) of the Framework Agreement by the Heads of State and Government of the signatory countries.

The participants in the Technical Meeting approved the Ministerial and High-Level programmes, as well as the second Report on the state of Implementation of the Framework Agreement.

The meeting was chaired by the assistant of United Nations’ secretary general and special envoy of UN Secretary general for Great lakes region, Huang Xia.

EU to set up military training mission in Ukraine

 The EU will establish a military training mission in Ukraine, the country’s foreign minister said on Monday, in a broadly symbolic move as part of the bloc’s efforts to support Kyiv in the face of a feared invasion by Russia.

The mission, which has been under discussion for months, will employ advisers to revamp Ukraine’s military education system, which uses Soviet-era methods.

“We reached an agreement with the EU in principle that the EU will roll out an advisory training military mission in Ukraine,” Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said after a meeting in Brussels with foreign ministers from EU countries. “The details, the main parameters and the timeline of this rollout are still to be discussed, but it is critical we open this new page of co-operation.”

Kuleba said the best way for the EU to assist Ukraine in its conflict with Moscow was to “send a clear signal to Russia that Ukraine is part of us”, he added.

Angolan president sends message to Obiang Nguema

 Luanda - Angolan head of State João Lourenço Friday sent a message to his counterpart in Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

The content of the message, delivered by the Angolan minister of Foreign Affairs Téte António, has not been disclosed to the press.

It is believed the message is related to the good bilateral cooperation relations between the countries, according to a note from the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the document, the top diplomat seized the opportunity to convey to the President of Equatorial Guinea his Angolan counterpart and Executive’s desire to seeing Malabo host the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union in May.

The Summit is expected to focus on Terrorism and Coups d'état on the continent.

Téte António said that the meeting was also an opportunity to exchange opinions with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on regional issues, as Angola holds the rotating presidency of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), the source added.

Angolan Foreign Minister, who returned to the Angolan capital, Luanda, on Friday afternoon, said that Equatorial Guinea plays an instrumental role in the region and on the African continent.