Covid-19: Russian Pres Putin warns against hurrying to lift restrictions

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with regional heads via a video link MOSCOW, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Vladimir Putin said Russia should not rush to lift coronavirus-related restrictions, warning that any haste in removing preventative measures could undo their work so far. Putin said governors would have…

Covid-19: Germany eases lockdown as Chancellor Merkel hails end of pandemic first phase

BERLIN, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chancellor Angela Merkel announced steps to ease the coronavirus lockdown, saying the first phase of the pandemic had passed but there was still a long way to go. Germany went into lockdown in March to slow the spread of the virus. Its reproduction rate has…

Covid-19: Uganda starts easing one of Africa’s strictest lockdowns

President Yoweri Museveni KAMPALA, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda began to loosen one of Africa’s strictest anti-coronavirus lockdowns after President Yoweri Museveni declared the infection “tamed.” The country of 42 million reported 97 confirmed cases and no deaths in 45 days of restrictions, and Museveni said it was now better…

South Africa ‘virtual safaris’ liven up lockdown with jackals and leopard cubs

A leopard sits in the grass in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, JOHANNESBURG, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Most visitors wanting to see big game in Africa jet in from faraway places, so when the new coronavirus grounded flights and put the world into lockdown, the legendary African safari died.…

Kenya urges Somalia to speedily investigate fatal plane crash

Security personnel at the crash site of a private cargo plane belonging to African Express Airways in Bardale, southern Bay region, Somalia NAIROBI, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya called for an urgent investigation into the fatal crash of a private cargo plane in Somalia amid unconfirmed reports it may have…

Ivory Coast PM to spend weeks in France on medical rest after heart exam

Gon Coulibaly is the governing party candidate in October’s presidential election ABIDJAN, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, the ruling party’s candidate in this year’s presidential race, will stay in France for a few weeks of medical rest after undergoing a heart exam, the presidency…

Covid-19: Kenya, Uganda latest to receive IMF help against pandemic

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The IMF approved a $739 million emergency loan for Kenya and $491.5 million for Uganda, as the East African countries deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Both face severe economic shocks amid efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Washington-based crisis lender said in announcing…

US military killed 132 civilians globally in 2019: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One hundred thirty-two civilians were killed last year in US global military operations, the army said, a number far lower than those published by NGOs. The Department of Defense “assesses that there were approximately 132 civilians killed and approximately 91 civilians injured during 2019 as…

Sudan: Tribal clashes in South Darfur kill 30 people

KHARTOUM, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thirty people were killed in tribal clashes that erupted in Sudan’s South Darfur province, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s office said in a statement. “South Darfur’s governor presented a detailed report about the situation in the province which showed that clashes erupting between tribal elements saw…

Covid-19: US death toll climbs by 2,073 in 24 hours with prison infections hit 30,000

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States recorded 2,073 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 73,095, according to the latest real-time tally Wednesday reported by Johns Hopkins University. The country — hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities —…