Covid-19: French police clash with residents in Paris suburbs amid lockdown

PARIS, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police fought running battles in Paris’s low-income northern suburbs with residents alleging heavy-handedness by officers enforcing France’s strict coronavirus lockdown. Residents burned trash and cars and shot fireworks at police, who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas in the suburbs of Villeneuve-la-Garenne and Aulnay-sous-Bois,…

Update: Oil plunges below US$5 with traders fleeing expiring contract; some US buyers offering $2 per barrel

Oil plunged below $5 a barrel as the coronavirus pandemic ravages global economies LONDON, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Oil plunged below $5 a barrel as the coronavirus pandemic ravages global economies, threatening to erase an entire decade of demand growth, slashing thousands of jobs and wiping out hundreds of billions…

Covid-19: Amnesty calls on African countries to unclog prisons

DAKAR, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in Sub-Saharan Africa must take urgent action to protect prisoners from the Coronavirus and guarantee access to healthcare and sanitation in all detention facilities, a global human rights watchdog said. In a statement, Amnesty International called on governments to release prisoners of conscience, review cases of…

Libya: One government soldier killed, two wounded in attack by east-based militia

TRIPOLI, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One soldier was killed and two others were wounded in a missile attack carried out by forces loyal to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar. Amin al-Hashemi, a spokesman for the Health Ministry of Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), said that Haftar’s forces launched the…

Nigeria: Pres Buhari condemns attacks in home state

President Muhammadu Buhari ABUJA, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned a series of weekend attacks by gunmen in his home state of Katsina in the north west which left at least 47 people dead.Armed bandits riding dozens of motorbikes attacked areas of Safana, Dutsinma and Danmusa…

Covid-19: Kenyan judges protest against reopening of courts

Chief Justice David Maraga NAIROBI, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A plan to reopen Kenyan courts that are not equipped with video conferencing facilities has been met with opposition from judges and magistrates.Chief Justice David Maraga had announced that court sessions will be done in open spaces starting Wednesday once the…

South African Airways nears collapse with plan to fire all staff

South African Airways PRETORIA, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African Airways plans to lay off its entire workforce after failing to persuade the government to provide more financial aid, a move that threatens to ground the 86-year-old carrier for good.The state-owned airline has offered severance deals to all 4,700 staff…

Lesotho discussed ‘dignified exit’ for murder-charged prime minister Thabane

Thomas Thabane denies involvement in the 2017 murder of his estranged wife MASERU, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Following the intervention of South African mediators, politicians in Lesotho have pledged “a dignified retirement” for the country’s embattled prime minister.Thomas Thabane has been under pressure to step down over allegations he had…

Covid-19: Cases rise to 22,313 in Africa – WHO

BRAZZAVILLE, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa says the number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Africa has risen to over 22,000. The UN’s health agency gave the update on its official twitter account, @WHOAFRO on Monday. “COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Africa;…

Covid-19: Italy’s virus cases fall for the first time

ROME, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy reported its first drop on Monday in the number of people currently suffering from the novel coronavirus since it recorded its first infection in February. Those receiving intensive care treatment also fell to the lowest level in a month as Europe’s hardest-hit country began…