Prague Zoo shuts exhibit to protect primates from Indonesia

PRAGUE, Sept 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic has announced it is closing its popular “Indonesian Jungle” exhibit from Saturday as there is a risk of the orangutan and the macaque monkeys catching Covid-19 from visitors. In the exhibit visitors first walk through a mock cave where…

US to ban TikTok downloads, WeChat use from Sunday

Video sharing app Tiktok displayed on a tablet screen in Paris WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States ordered a ban on downloads of popular Chinese-owned video app TikTok and use of the messaging and payment platform WeChat, saying they threaten national security.The move, to be implemented Sunday, comes…

South Africa commits $650 million to help ailing national airline

A South African Airways aircraft at the OR Tambo International Airport PRETORIA, Sept 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa has pledged 10.5 billion rand ($650 million) to South African Airways (SAA), one of the administrators of the ailing state-owned airline said. The administrators took control of SAA in December after almost…

Covid-19: Namibia lifts coronavirus state of emergency

Namibia has confirmed more than 10,000 coronavirus cases WINDHOEK, Sept 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Namibia has ended its COVID-19 state of emergency, six months after it was imposed to curb the spread of the virus. It means international travel can resume, a ban on domestic travel between the capital and nearby towns has…

Conditions not ripe to send monitors to Venezuela vote: European, LatAm Group

BRUSSELS, Sept 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European and Latin American ministers said that conditions were not ripe to send observers to Dec 6parliamentary elections in Venezuela as they would neither be free nor fair. The Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro two weeks ago invited the leaders of the United Nations…

Daesh ‘behind killing of six French aid workers in Niger’

This burned out vehicle was found near the scene of the attack in August NIAMEY, Sept 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Daesh group has said its militants were behind the killing of six French aid workers, their local guide and driver in Niger in August.A statement from the group has been…

Uganda gets $130m from World Bank for roadworks

The proposed road corridor passes near Bidibidi, Africa’s most populous refugee settlement KAMPALA, Sept 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) –The World Bank approved a $130 million grant to Uganda for road infrastructure in the West Nile sub-region. The region hosts the bulk of South Sudanese and Congolese refugees. In a statement, the World…

Indonesia capital eyes doubling of COVID-19 testing as cases soar

Health workers conduct a swab test on civilians, some of 28 living in the compounds of the Indonesian army’s Officer Candidate School in Bandung JAKARTA, Sept 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Indonesia’s capital plans to double its COVID-19 testing capacity in the near future, its governor said, as it fights surging infections…

Two-thirds of Japan public support new PM Suga, polls show

Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (center) TOKYO, Sept 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government was backed by at least two-thirds of respondents in domestic polls taken in the early days of his administration. The Kyodo news agency said its telephone poll showed 66.4 per cent of…

Japan sending team to probe Mauritius ship grounding

Oil leaking from the MV Wakashio that ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius TOKYO, Sept 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Japan said it will send a five-person team to Mauritius to investigate the grounding of a Japanese-owned ship off the country’s coast that led to an environmental crisis. A bulk…