Covid-19: Hungary’s PM Orban seeks sweeping new powers in virus fight

BUDAPEST, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hungary’s parliament was on Monday expected to endorse a bill giving nationalist premier Viktor Orban sweeping new powers he says he needs to fight the new coronavirus pandemic. Critics at home and abroad have condemned the “anti-coronavirus defencelaw”, saying it gives Orban unnecessary and unlimited…

Update: Cruise company still searching for port for Covid-19 ship, passengers plead for help

PANAMA CITY, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Passengers on a virus-strickencruise liner entered the Panama Canal in Central America Sunday after theywere told the company was still searching for a port which will allow them to disembark, even as they pleaded for help. The Panama Canal Authority said the Zaandam liner…

Update Covid-19: US sees 518 new deaths in 24 hours

WASHINGTON, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US recorded 518 new coronavirus-linked deaths in the span of 24 hours, according to data published by Johns Hopkins University. The record toll, higher than the previous day’s increase of 453, brings thecountry’s total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic to…

Update: US Pres Trump ditches hopes of quick virus bounce-back as more countries globally opted for lockdowns

A staff member checks equipment in the ICU room of a field hospital being set up in Cremona, Italy WASHINGTON, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump abandoned his timetable for life returning to normal in the United States,extending emergency coronavirus restrictions for another month, while Spain suffered its deadliest…

Covid-19: 102-year-old Italian woman survives coronavirus

102-year-old Italica Grondona GENOA, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 102-year-old Italian woman, Italica Grondona, has survived the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 after spending more than 20 days in hospital. Although the aged are said to be among those highly vulnerable to COVID-19, Grondona recovered from coronavirus in the northern Italian…

Covid-19: Moscow mayor imposes citywide lockdown from Monday

MOSCOW, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s capital Moscow was put under lockdown from Monday March 30. All residents of Moscow were forbidden from leaving their homes and their movement in the city would subject to special permits, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said in a statement. However, exceptions are made for…

Covid-19: Netherlands recalls faulty masks imported from China

AMSTERDAM, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dutch officials have recalled tens of thousands of masks imported from China and distributed to hospitals battling the coronavirus outbreak because they do not meet quality standards, the health ministry said. They received delivery of masks from a Chinese manufacturer on March 21, the ministry…

France and allies establish new task force Takuba in Sahel

Soldiers from Burkina Faso patrol along a Gorgadji road in the Sahel area PARIS, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France and several of its European allies have officially set up a new task force, called Takuba, made of special forces that will fight armed groups in the West African region of…

Covid-19: Smokers at higher risk of coronavirus – WHO

GENEVA, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organisation has said smokers and tobacco consumers have a high chance of contracting COVID-19. The United Nations’ specialized body for global health also said asthmatic and diabetic patients are vulnerable to be infected with the virus. It said, “Smokers are likely to…

Covid-19: South African workers freed from mask-making factory

DURBAN, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in the South African city of Durban have freed 14 workers who had been “locked up in a mask-making factory since Monday”, a local government minister said. They also arrested the owner of the business. The workers “were forced to manufacture hundreds of…