Covid-19: France’s death toll surges past 3,500

PARIS, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The new coronavirus killed an additional 499 people in France on Tuesday as it continues to take a devastating toll on the country, said the health authorities. The death toll surged to 3,523 and a total of 52,128 cases of infection were recorded, according to…

Covid-19: 13-year-old boy dies, youngest in UK – London hospital trust

LONDON, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 13-year-old boy who tested positive for coronavirus has died, a London hospital trust has said. Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton in south London, died in King’s College Hospital early on Monday. He is thought to be the youngest person to have died with the…

Covid-19: Botswana leader announces ‘extreme lockdown’ from April 2

President Masisi also announced a relief fund and wage subsidies GABORONE, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has declared a state of emergency for 28 days to curb the spread of the coronavirus.He said there will be an “extreme lockdown” from Thursday April 2 when only those providing…

Covid-19: Westerners in East Africa face virus hostility

East African countries have banned all international arrivals in airports NAIROBI, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Panic over the global coronavirus pandemic has led to discrimination of foreigners in East Africa. From Ethiopia, to Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Westerners have been verbally and physically abused over fears that…

Covid-19: African finance ministers seek $100b cushion against coronavirus

South African Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni PRETORIA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — African finance ministers have appealed for a $100 billion bailout package from international lenders to cushion their economies from effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has put the entire continent in virtual lockdown. In an appeal signed by…

Covid-19: Kenyan boy shot dead as virus curfew enforced

Police are enforcing nightly curfews to stop coronavirus spreading NAIROBI, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya’s police chief has ordered an investigation into the death of a 13-year-old boy said to have been shot on Monday evening as police enforced a curfew. The child was playing on the balcony of his…

DR Congo battles five diseases – malaria, measles, cholera, coronavirus and ebola

DR Congo needs to invest more in its health system, Unicef says KINSHASA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations children’s agency (Unicef) says the Democratic Republic of Congo’s healthcare system needs urgent support or children’s futures will be destroyed. The vast, conflict-ridden country is struggling to cope with five…

Covid-19: Ethiopia postpones polls because of coronavirus

Women in a voting booth ADDIS ABABA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia’s electoral board has postponed August’s highly anticipated general election because of the coronavirus pandemic.A new schedule would be announced once the threat of the pandemic was over, the board said. Ethiopia has so far recorded 25 cases without…

Covid-19: USA Rugby files for bankruptcy as coronavirus worsens financial woes

LOS ANGELES, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — USA Rugby, its financial troublesexacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, has filed for bankruptcy, thefederation said. In a statement posted on its website, USA Rugby said it had filed forChapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows financially struggling organizations toreorganize and restructure debt. “Existing financial challenges have…

US judge grants early release to Brazilian in FIFA corruption scandal

NEW YORK, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A federal judge in New Yorkgranted the release from prison on humanitarian grounds of an 87-year-oldformer senior Brazilian football official tarnished by the FIFA corruptionscandal. Judge Pamela Chen authorized the release of Jose Maria Marin, a formerBrazilian Football Confederation president, who was serving a…