Covid-19: UK dines out on govt-backed restaurant scheme

LONDON, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A British government scheme to encourage people to visit restaurants, by paying a slice of the bill, has boosted a sector devastated by the coronavirus, according to a study published on Monday. The incentive — “Eat Out to Help Out” — valid Monday to Wednesday…

France urges new Mideast talks after Pres Macron call with Palestinian Pres Abbas

PARIS, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French President Emmanuel Macron urged fresh Middle East peace talks after Israel and the UAE agreed to normalise ties in a move praised by many Western governments, including Paris, but unanimously denounced by the Palestinians. Taking to Twitter after a phone conversation with Mahmoud Abbas,…

WHO struggles to contain latest Ebola outbreak in DRC

GENEVA, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that his agency is struggling to contain the latest Ebola outbreak in the province of Ecuador, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Tedros said WHO is concerned…

Angola seizes, closes Brazil evangelical churches over corruption allegations

The UCKG, Brazil’s biggest evangelical church, inaugurated this temple in Sao Paulo in 2014 LUANDA, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prosecutors in Angola have ordered the closure of places of worship belonging to one of Brazil’s biggest churches, accusing it of corruption. At least seven buildings belonging to the Universal Church…

Zimbabwe rejects Catholic bishops’ criticism of corruption and abuse

Police have been accused of strong-arm tactics against anti-government protesters HARARE, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe’s government has dismissed a letter by Roman Catholic bishops highlighting corruption, poverty and human rights abuses. “There is no crisis, political or otherwise,” said Information Secretary Nick Mangwana. He accused the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop’s…

Covid-19: Ten African innovations to help tackle coronavirus

Doctor Car robot ADDIS ABABA, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As Africa passes more than a million confirmed COVID-19 cases, innovators on the continent have responded to the challenges of the pandemic with a wide range of creative inventions. . DOCTOR CAR ROBOT: Students from the Dakar Polytechnic School in Senegal have built…

Militants attack Mogadishu beachfront hotel

The hotel is popular with local politicians and Somalis from the diaspora MOGADISHU, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somali security forces battled militants for more than four hours Sunday before ending an attack and siege of a beachfront hotel. Ismail Mukhtar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, said 11 people were…

Disputed elections: Tens of thousands of Belarus opposition supporters march in Minsk

MINSK, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tens of thousands of Belarusian opposition supporters gathered in Minsk on Sunday to join a “March for Freedom” over President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed re-election. Chanting “Leave!”, the protesters marched down Independence Avenuefollowing an opposition call for the biggest rally yet in a week ofdemonstrations since…

France asks Afghanistan not to free Taliban convicted of killing French citizens

Live NEWS/ASIA France asks Afghans not to free Taliban who killed its citizens PARIS/KABUL, Aug 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France has objected to the release of three men jailed for the murders of French nationals in Afghanistan as part of Kabul’s decision to release 400 Taliban prisoners as the last phase…

US unrest: Police disperse Georgia protest after fights break out

A counter-protester sits with his hands behind his back after most counter-protesters were dispersed after various militia groups staged rallies in downtown Stone Mountain, Georgia PORTLAND (GEORGIA, US), Aug 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Groups ranging from an anti-government patriot group in Portland, Oregon to alt-right Proud Boys in Kalamazoo, Michigan battled…