December 2, 2021

*) First case of Omicron found in US The United States has identified its first known Covid case caused by the Omicron variant. The infected person, who had mild and improving symptoms, returned to the United States from South Africa on November 22. He tested positive seven days later. The person is in self-quarantine and all of the patient's close contacts have tested negative, according to top US infectious disease official Dr Anthony Fauci. *) Ethiopian army recaptures several towns near capital from Tigrayan rebels Ethiopia has claimed it recaptured several towns after Tigrayan rebels took control of them last week as part of their advance towards the capital Addis Ababa. Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu said forces recaptured towns on the Shewa front, including Shewa Robit, Mezezo, Molale, Rasa and its surroundings. Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced its aid trucks have started to arrive in Tigray’s capital Mekelle after more than six weeks. Flights between Mekelle and Addis Ababa have also resumed. *) World Bank reportedly okays unfreezing $280M to aid Afghanistan The World Bank's board has endorsed transferring $280 million from a frozen trust fund to two aid agencies to help Afghanistan cope with a brewing humanitarian crisis. This is according to Reuters news agency, which cited two sources familiar with the matter. The World Bank said that the 31 donors to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund must approve the transfer before the funds could flow to the World Food Programme and UNICEF. The donors are expected to meet on Friday. *) EU to tighten asylum rules at Belarus border The European Union has proposed curtailing some rights of refugees at its borders with Belarus. Under the proposal by the EU Commission, refugees would be permitted to claim asylum only at designated locations, such as border crossings, and could be kept for up to 16 weeks at the border. ​​The new proposals are part of the latest EU attempt to deal with what it describes as a crisis manufactured by B