LONDON – The United Kingdom’s decision to impose further restrictions in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant has been met with criticism from the tourism industry, while scientists say it is too little, too late, said La Repubblica Sunday.

 For both British and Italian airlines and hotels, it is a "devastating blow" to the tourism sector - one of the industries worst affected by pandemic restrictions that had been cautiously on the way to recovery.

 JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s government has been rocked by a chorus of protest over its decision to drop its former officially endorsed candidate to head the ILO, Prof. Mthunzi Mdwaba, after Pretoria spent over half a million dollars on his campaign to become director general the Geneva-based organization. Pundits are demanding that the decision be reversed to prevent the field being open for the rival African candidate, Gilbert Houngbo, the IFAD president from tiny Togo.