Mexico’s giant pandas are Chinese in name only

MEXICO CITY, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan are the main attractions at the Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City but what makes them truly unique, zoo officials say, is that they’re the only giant pandas in the world not owned by China. They were born in captivity…

Russian woman in court for fleeing Covid-19 quarantine

MOSCOW, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Russian hospital filed a lawsuit against a woman for escaping her Covid-19 quarantine, complaining of being forcibly held and given inedible meals.The head doctor of the Botkin hospital in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg took the highly unusual action against Alla Ilyina to…

Ethiopia delays election over rainy season fears

Birtukan Mideksa, the chair of the electoral board ADDIS ABABA, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia’s electoral board has postponed the highly anticipated general election by nearly two weeks to Aug 29. Voting day had been set for Aug 16, which was met with criticism as it coincided with the height…

Covid-19: Ugandans stranded in Wuhan due to lack of funds by Government to transport them home

 In Wuhan, people have complained of a lack of food and information KAMPALA, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Ugandan government has said it’s too costly to charter a plane to bring home an estimated 105 students stranded in the virus-hit city of Wuhan, in China, But it is going to…

Zimbabwe police get salary increases

Zimbabwean police HARARE, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has increased salaries of members of the police with assistant commissioners expected to get a gross salary of over 7,000 Zimbabwe dollars while the lowest-paid constabularies are set to receive just over 3,200 dollars per month. In a circular…

One in four African children live in conflict zones – Report

LONDON, Feb 15 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — About 170 million children live in conflict zones across Africa – equivalent to one in every four African children – the highest absolute number of any region in the world, according to a report by Save the Children, a non-governmental organisation.The report, released Thursday, noted…

Nigeria: Boko Haram leader gives condition for Chibok girls’ release

Nigerian Chibok girls MAIDUGURI, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, has given a condition under which the remaining Chibok schoolgirls in captivity will be released.More than 100 of the 276 girls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, in 2014, have remained in…

Last month was hottest January on record: US climate service

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Last month was the hottest January on record, surpassing a previous high recorded in 2016, the US climate service said. Land and ocean surface temperatures surpassed the 20th century Januaryaverage of 53.6 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius) by 2.05 degrees, theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration…

US: Pres Trump insists he can intervene in criminal cases after being criticised by AG for interference

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump dismissed rare criticism from his attorney general, tweeting that he has the “legal right” to intervene in criminal cases whenever he likes. Trump has been accused by opponents in Congress of trying to strip away the Justice Department’s independence to benefit himself…

Fifteen children killed in Haiti orphanage fire: official

Fifteen children were killed in the blaze on Thursday night PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fifteen children have died after a fire swept through an orphanage in Haiti run by a US Christian group, triggering renewed controversy over the proliferation of non-registered orphanages in the poorest nation in the Americas. Two children…