Covid-19: Major tourist attractions in Scotland closed

EDINBURGH, March 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Major tourist attractions in Scotland, including Edinburgh Castle, have been closed with immediate effect, Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which runs the attractions, announced. HES said it had made the decision to close public access until further notice, following updated Scottish Government advice regarding COVID-19. The…

Covid-19: Brazilian president’ 2nd test again negative

President Jair Bolsonaro RIO DE JANEIRO, March 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced on his verified social media account that his second coronavirus test was negative. The result came after Bolsonaro announced on March 13 that he had tested negative for the virus. Despite the negative result from…

UN calls on Libyan rivals to stop military action for fight against COVID-19

War-torn Libya is largely divided between forces backing the Government of National Accord (GNA) and those of eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar, who backs a rival administration in the country’s east TRIPOLI, March 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called on the Libyan rival parties…

Militia ‘sect’ wreaks havoc in remote DR Congo region

BUNIA (DR Congo), March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — With three fingers chopped off his left hand, Father Guy-Robert Mandro bears physical witness to a resurgence of violence in DR Congo that has gone widely unnoticed in a world fixated by the coronavirus pandemic. Since the start of the month, around 50…

Covid-19: Pres Trump calls for national unity against coronavirus

WASHINGTON, March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump called for a unified national response to the coronavirus threat, after coming under fire for downplaying the pandemic and allowing states to go their own way. Trump’s call came as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the White House was presenting a…

Covid-19: Africans “preparing for war” scrambling for groceries

A trader weighs grains at Rwanda’s Kimironko market as shoppers stock up on essential items KIGALI, March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Alarmed consumers thronged markets across Africa, many in masks and gloves, to stock up as the coronavirus spread on the world’s poorest continent. Food prices rose in some parts, though…

Chad ‘repaying $100m debt to Angola with cattle’

Chad is a major exporter of livestock LUANDA, March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chad is repaying Angola a debt of $100m with cattle, Angola’s state-run newspaper has reported. The unusual agreement is seen as creating a win-win situation for both nations – Chad is short of cash while Angola needs cattle. More than 1,000…

Covid-19: Countries around the world locks down as global panic spreads

PARIS, March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European leaders are set to ban non-essential travel into the continen, the latest drastic attempt to curb the coronavirus pandemic that has upended society, battered markets andkilled thousands around the world. With French President Emmanuel Macron describing the battle against COVID-19 as a “war”, governments…

Masks, gloves don’t stop coronavirus spread but washing hands will: WHO, experts

PARIS, March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Wearing masks and gloves as a precaution against coronavirus is ineffective, unnecessary for the vast majority of people, and may even spread infections faster, experts said Tuesday. While near-total lockdowns have been imposed in Italy, Spain and now France, the World Health Organization’s advice has…

Covid-19: Russia begins testing potential coronavirus vaccine

MOSCOW, March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian scientists have begun to test vaccine prototypes for the new coronavirus, and plan to present the most effective one by June, a laboratory chief at a state biotech institute said. Russia has reported 93 cases of infection but no deaths, according to official numbers…