Covid-19: ‘Liberate’ states protesting against lockdown – US Pres Trump

Protesters took to the streets in Michigan to protest the ‘excessive quarantine’ WASHINGTON, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump has appeared to endorse protests against stringent lockdown measures in several US states.In a series of tweets, he said: “LIBERATE MINNESOTA”, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” and then “LIBERATE VIRGINIA”.Protesters say the severe…

Covid-19: Air hub Senegal extends flight ban until May 31; Burundi cancels diaspora voting for May elections

Senegalese authorities and airport staff unload cargo DAKAR, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Senegal, an important air hub in West Africa, has extended a suspension on all flights to and from its soil until May 31 as part of measures to contain coronavirus, Transport Minister Alioune Sarr announced.The announcement, made on…

Covid-19: A million test kits to meet Africa’s ‘big gap’

ABUJA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced that it will roll out one million coronavirus testing kits to meet the continent’s “big gap”. The organisation’s director John Nkengasong says testing rates on the continent are low. He said the Africa…

Covid-19: Ethiopians grieve ‘at least 100’ deaths in US

ADDIS ABABA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — News of the deaths of dozens of Ethiopians living in the US from coronavirus has grieved and shocked many back home. Little was known before about the situation of fellow citizens abroad, especially in countries hit hard by the virus. Ethiopia’s top diplomat in…

Nigeria do not owe IMF thus not entitled to debt relief – Finance Minister

Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance ABUJA, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, has revealed why the country was not entitled to the recently granted IMF relief. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief, Kristalina Georgieva announced that 25 countries (at least more than 15…

Covid-19: Africa could be next epicentre, WHO warns as UN says up to 3.3 million Africans could die

BRAZZAVILLE, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Africa could become the next epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. There was a sharp rise in cases in the past week. There have been almost 1,000 deaths and more than 18,000 infections across Africa so far, although these…

Covid-19: Nearly 17,000 Italian health workers infected with virus as more infections, deaths reported in Spain, Russia

ROME, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly 17,000 health care workers have been infected with the new coronavirus in Italy, more than two-thirds of them women, the country’s public health institute said. The figure accounts for 10 percent of Italy’s officially registered infections. The ISS public health institute did not report…

Covid-19: 4.5 billion people confined

PARIS, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly six out of every 10 people around the world are currently forced or urged to stay at home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to an AFP count on Friday. This concerns at least 4.5 billion people, or around 58 percent of…

Fire kills 14 at refugee camp in northeast Nigeria

ABUJA, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured when a fire broke out Thursday at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northeast Nigeria. The incident took place at a camp in Ngala, a small town close to the border with Cameroon, an…

Covid-19: Third Cabinet official in Japan tests positive amid expanded state of emergency

Commuters wearing masks make their way on a street in Tokyo TOKYO, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Japan’s Cabinet said on Friday that an official had tested positive for the coronavirus, making him the third case among officials at the Cabinet office. The case inside the Cabinet office comes as Japan…