You are watching Africa 54, your daily news and feature magazine-style program, from the Voice of America. Host Esther Githui-Ewart and a team of correspondents zero in on the big stories making news on the continent and around the world with context and analysis.
Top Stories:
Condemning Tigrayan forces and praising the filling of a major dam project, thousands rallied in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on Thursday in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Attacks by Tigrayan fighters in Ethiopia's Afar region have forced over 54 thousand people from their homes, according to an official. Refugees in a camp in southern Tigray described heavy clashes nearby. Tens of thousands of people, meanwhile, rallied in the capital to support Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has faced criticism for his handling of a conflict that threatens to undermine stability in Africa's second most populous nation.
Africa is demanding that Global pharmaceutical firms license production of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa rather than just do piecemeal contract deals. Africa Union coronavirus envoy Strive Masiyiwa made the call when speaking a day after Pfizer and BioNTech announced a "fill and finish" deal with South Africa's Biovac Institute under which it will carry out the final stages of vaccine manufacturing - where the product is processed and put into vials.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia's Prime Minister's Office released drone footage of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on social media this week, showing the reservoir fully filled.The Horn of Africa nation completed filling the reservoir of its huge dam on the Blue Nile river for a second year.
Former President Jacob Zuma, whose jailing this month led to South Africa's worst outbreak of violence in years, was granted compassionate leave to attend the funeral of his younger brother on Thursday. The government said he was back in prison by the afternoon.Soldiers patrolled nearby and military and police vehicles were stationed along the road.
Students in Malawi have begun classes in what is being billed as the world's first 3D-printed school, constructed by joint venture group 14Trees. The Swiss-British group says the quick construction of computer-built schools can help alleviate a shortfall in classrooms in countries like Malawi. But as Lameck Masina reports from Salima district, Malawi, the cost remains a challenge.
Space tourism notches another win after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos follows fellow billionaire Richard Branson in rocketing to weightlessness. Plus, the hunt for ancient life on Mars is about to begin, and wildfires rage out of control in the U.S. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi brings us The Week in Space.
This year’s 1455 Summer Literary Festival – an annual free 3-day virtual program sponsored by a group of universities in Virginia – featured over 200 authors, poets, and creative artists sharing their insights into the Art of Storytelling. Maxim Moskalkov has the story.
Burkinabe triple jumper Hugues Fabrice Zango in January set a world record to hop, skip and jump more than 18 meters indoors. Zango is on his way to the Tokyo Olympics and stands a good chance of bringing home Burkina Faso’s first Olympic medal. Henry Wilkins reports from Ouagadougou.
#Tigray #Ethiopia #Covid19 #Africa #GERD #Zuma #SouthAfrica #Malawi #Amazon #BurkinaFaso
