Covid-19: Togo declares immediate state of emergency

Faure Gnassingbé, Togo’s President LOME, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé has declared an immediate three-month state of emergency to stop the spread of coronavirus.He said the seriousness of the situation warranted the measures, which include the immediate start a curfew from 19:00-06:00 local time.A 5,000-strong unit of…

Covid-19: Minister tells Kenyans to stop trolling survivors

Brenda Cherotich was Kenya’s first confirmed case of coronavirus NAIROBI, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe has criticised Kenyans for their mockery of two Kenyans who recovered from coronavirus. Kenyans online have criticised the announcement of the two recoveries on Wednesday – during a press conference –…

Covid-19: African governments team up with tech giants to fight virus fake news

A man opens the Facebook page on his computer to fact check coronavirus disease PRETORIA, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Governments across Africa are teaming up with technology giants including Facebook and WhatsApp to fight misinformation about coronavirus on social media platforms that could propel the pandemic on a continent with…

Covid-19: US Pres Trump says Florida will evacuate stranded cruise ships

FORT LAUDERDALE (Florida, US), April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — After finally reaching a deal with authorities, Holland America was allowed to dock two of its ships at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Thursday.  Port Everglades traffic records confirmed the arrival of MS Zaandam and sister ship MS Rotterdam after 5 p.m. local time. Photos…

Roadside bomb kills 7 civilians in South Afghanistan

LASHKAR GAH (Afghanistan), April 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Seven civilianslost their lives and two others sustained injuries as a roadside bomb strucka mini-bus in Gershk district of the southern Helmand province,provincial government spokesman Omar Zawak said. The deadly incident occurred on a road in the restive Gershk district at10:30 a.m. local…

Covid-19: Russian plane with supplies for virus fight lands in US

NEW YORK, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Russian military plane carrying medical supplies arrived in the United States on Wednesday, the Russian mission to the UN said, as the Kremlin flexes its soft power amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Antonov-124, landed at JFK Airport in New York — the epicenter…

Covid-19: Under-fire Johnson says UK will ‘massively increase testing’

LONDON, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain would “massively increase testing” amid a growing wave of criticism about his government’s failure to provide widespread coronavirus screening. In a video message posted online from Downing Street, where he has been in self-isolation since announcing on March 27…

Covid-19: Philippine Pres Duterte tells police to shoot dead lockdown troublemakers

MANILA, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told security forces they should shoot dead anyone causing “trouble” in areas locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic. About half the country’s roughly 110 million people are currently under quarantine — including millions in deep poverty, left jobless by…

Covid-19: Olympic sports fret over lost Games income

LAUSANNE, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and the shutdown of the sporting calendar because of the coronavirus pandemic are going to hit international sports federations hard financially. Many sports that are part of the Games depend heavily on the payouts every four years from the…

Covid-19: Global cases near a million as Spain sees record deaths

MADRID, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Confirmed coronavirus cases approached one million around the world on Thursday as Europe reeled from the pandemic and the US prepared for what President Donald Trump warned would be “horrific” days ahead. The virus claimed thousands more lives in its relentless march across the globe,…