Covid-19: Mixed reception to Italy’s easing of lockdown

ROME, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy allowed bookshops and children’s clothing retailers to reopen on Tuesday but some business owners chose to stay shut, fearing it was too soon to lift the coronavirus lockdown. Launderettes and stationery shops were also permitted to reopen on Tuesday as the government sought to…

Covid-19: ‘Not the time to reduce the resources’ of WHO, says UN chief as US halt funding

UNITED NATIONS, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — It is “not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. “It is my belief that the World Health Organization…

Covid-19: US hits record 2,228 deaths in past 24 hours – Johns Hopkins tally

WASHINGTON, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States recorded 2,228 deaths related to the coronavirus pandemic over the past 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:30 pm Tuesday (0030 GMT Wednesday). The number of fatalities was a sharp increase after two days in decline,…

Covid-19: US Pres Trump to convene G7 leaders in video call to discuss pandemic

WASHINGTON, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump will hold a video teleconference with G7 leaders on Thursday to coordinate national responses to the coronavirus outbreak, the White House said.Trump, who is head of the G7 this year, had planned to hold this year’s summit at the presidential retreat…

Fugitive Brazilian gang leader arrested in Mozambique, after two decades on the run

MAPUTO, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One of Brazil’s most wanted criminals has been arrested in Mozambique after spending more than two decades on the run, officials say. Gilberto Aparecido dos Santos, known as Fuminho, is accused of running drug trafficking operations for one of Brazil’s most powerful gangs. The 49-year-old…

Update: WHO says DRC’s Ebola outbreak is still an international emergency

The DRC confirmed three new cases of Ebola GENEVA, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) –The World Health Organization (WHO) said the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern following the emergence of fresh cases. The announcement on Tuesday came just a day after the country…

Nigeria: 4 family members perish in collapsed building in Kano

KANO (Nigeria), April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s Kano State Fire Service has confirmed that four members of a family died in a collapsed building at Saberi area in Gwale Local Government Area, on Monday.The Spokesman of the Service, Saidu Mohammed, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said that three…

Covid-19: Burundi suspends football league over coronavirus

GITEGA, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Burundi Football Federation has suspended local matches, two weeks after the country confirmed its first case of coronavirus.The federation had earlier refused to suspend matches saying it had introduced measures to protect players against the virus.The country currently has five confirmed cases of the…

Ugandan gay refugee kills himself outside UNHCR’s office in Kenya

LGBTI refugees community leader, Pio Pat NAIROBI, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Ugandan LGBTI refugee took his life outside the office of the UN refugee agency in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.The man was allegedly beaten up moments before he killed himself, according to LGBTI refugees community leader, Pio Pat.Pat says Aneste…

Locusts, coronavirus combination pose dire threat to East Africa

NAIROBI, April 15 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Officials with the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) say a resurgence of locusts which devastated crops in parts of Africa earlier this year is beginning to hit rural parts of East Africa.Early this year, one of the biggest locust outbreaks in decades hit central…