MOMBASA, Kenya — Kenya will rely on charter flights to boost tourism numbers during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic period, a government official said Saturday.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said the charter flights Kenya is receiving signals the growing confidence in the country’s tourism products and preparedness against COVID-19. (Kenya-Flights)
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CAPE TOWN — The Cape Town municipality of South Africa has announced that 18 nature reserves and conservation areas in the biodiverse city will open up to members of the public for free for four days to encourage them to explore nature and participate in an international biodiversity competition.
In matching with the period of the City Nature Challenge competition’s first part for pictures-taking of wild plants and animals, all the 16 natures reserves managed by the city, as well as major tourism attractions Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Cape Point Concession, will be open to the public free of charge between April 30 and May 3. (South Africa-Cape Town-Nature Reserves Opening)
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PARIS — French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Saturday an “exceptional solidarity fund” worth 1 billion euros (1.198 billion U.S. dollars) in special aid after unusual spring frost damaged vines and fruits across the country.
“The state must be up to this disaster. In exceptional circumstances, there are exceptional measures,” Castex said when he emerged from talks with agricultural representatives and elected officials in Montagnac in southern France. (France-Agricutlure-Aid)
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BAGHDAD — The militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group on Saturday detonated two bombs near two oil wells in Iraq’s Kirkuk Province, a security source said.
The attacks took place at dawn in Bai Hassan oil field in the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Iraq’s capital Baghdad, causing minor casualties in the oil wells, a provincial police source told Xinhua. (IS-Bomb-Oil Field)
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