Angolan president due Saturday in Qatar for two-day visit

PRESIDENT JOÃO LOURENÇO DOHA, Sept 7 (NNN-ANGOP) — Angolan head of state João Lourenço is expected Saturday in Qatar for a two-day state visit, according the President’s Civil Affairs Office. On the same day (Saturday),  Joao Lourenço will visit the Qatar National Museum. Sunday agenda includes meeting with the Qatari…

Militants kill three soldiers, a policeman in NE Nigeria

KANO (Nigeria), Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least three Nigerian soldiersand a policeman were killed when militants attacked thetown of Gajiram in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state on Thursday. Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) stormed thetown around 0100 GMT in nine all-terrain trucks fitted with machine guns…

Hong Kong freedoms must be ‘guaranteed’: German Chancellor Merkel

BEIJING, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel saidthe rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong “must be guaranteed”after a Friday meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing, her spokesman said. Hong Kong has been plunged into months of pro-democracy protests, andahead of her three-day visit to…

Brexit deal with UK ‘seems not possible’: Finnish EU presidency

HELSINKI, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An agreement with Britain to avoid a no-deal Brexit now appears impossible as the country is in “quite a mess”,Finland’s prime minister, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency,said Friday. “I hope that we can reach a situation where this (Brexit) can be solved sothat…

Germany plans to ban single-use plastic shopping bags next year

BERLIN, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany plans to ban single-use plasticbags from next year, joining a growing movement to fight global pollution,the environment minister said. Supermarkets and other retailers will be barred from offering lightweightplastic carrier bags at their checkouts, including those now marketed asbeing biodegradable or being made from…

Pres Putin woos Asian investors in Russia’s Far East

VLADIVOSTOK (Russia), Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Vladimir Putinsought to lure Asian investment to Russia’s Far East as thelaunch was announced of a huge Arctic gas project aimed at Asian markets. Hosting leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi in the Pacific port city of…

Zambian president condemns South Africa xenophobic attacks

LUSAKA, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Zambian President Edgar Lungu condemned the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Zambian leader said the attacks deserve to be condemned in all its forms and manifestations. “Attacks of this nature targeted at foreign nations call for urgent concerted measures by the South African…

Ethiopia condemns violence against its nationals in South Africa

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) condemned violence against its nationals in South Africa. “We condemn the heinous act of violence and looting of properties perpetrated against foreigners including our citizens in South Africa,” MoFA said in a press statement. “We are encouraged…

Femicide protests rock WEF Africa conference in South Africa

Demonstrators against South Africa’s “femicide epidemic” CAPE TOWN, Sept 5 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Students, men and women demonstrated against South Africa’s “femicide epidemic” as the World Economic Forum on Africa kicks off in Cape Town, amid growing alarm over gender violence in the country.Some 500 demonstrators, mainly young women, gathered in…

Nigerians offered free flight to flee xenophobic attacks in South Africa

ABUJA, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerians in South Africa are being offered a free flight to return home “following the recent unfortunate xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals“, Nigeria’s foreign ministry said. The owner of Air Peace Airlines was willing to evacuate Nigerians free of charge on Friday, it said. “Interested…