Covid-19: ECOWAS dispatches diagnostic test kits to member states

ABUJA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has procured and made delivery of some 30,500 diagnostic test kits to its 15 member countries. The test kits are part of the various products purchased by the body to deal with the pandemic. This information was…

Al-Shabaab founding member killed in air strike: US Africa Command

Commander of US Africa Command, Gen Stephen Townsend MOGADISHU, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States says it has killed a founding member of the militant group al-Shabaab, Yusuf Jiis, in an airstrike in Somalia. There has been no word so far from al-Shabaab. The commander of US Africa Command,…

Covid-19: New York registers record 731 virus deaths in 24 hours

NEW YORK, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New York state has recorded its highest number of COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, adding though that hospitalizations appeared to be “plateauing.” Cuomo said 731 people succumbed to the new coronavirus on Monday, bringing the state’s total death toll to…

US Pres Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham steps down: White House

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump’s chief spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham, who never held a single press briefing in a White House where Trump runs much of the communications himself, stepped down Tuesday. The White House said Grisham would now work solely for Trump’s wife Melania. “First Lady Melania…

Covid-19: Global death toll at 75,542

PARIS, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The worldwide number of fatalities from the novel coronavirus rose to 75,542 on Tuesday. More than 1,351,000 declared cases have been registered in 191 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 253,900 are now considered…

Ten non-OPEC+ producers invited to Thursday talks: TASS

MOSCOW, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ten oil producing nations from outside the OPEC+ alliance including the United States have been invited to a meeting aimed at reaching an agreement to reduce oversupply, Russian news agency TASS reported. During a meeting to be held via video conference on Thursday, OPEC and…

Covid-19: British PM Johnson ‘stable’ in intensive care

LONDON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was battling the coronavirus in intensive care on Tuesday, raising serious concerns about his health as the country recorded its highest daily death toll. “The prime minister has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits,” his official spokesman told…

In first, US brands white supremacists as foreign terrorists

Members of the Russian Imperial Movement WASHINGTON, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States branded a Russian far-right group as a foreign terrorist organisation, the first time it has targeted white supremacists with tools regularly used against militant groups. The State Department said that the Russian Imperial Movement runs two paramilitary…

Covid-19: Italy injects record US$430b into pandemic-hit economy

A woman walks her dog in Rome ROME, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy unveiled a record 400 billion euro stimulus to help businesses hurt by a month-long national lockdown that is like to run on for many more weeks. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told the nation to be patient in the…

US warns China not to ‘exploit’ virus for sea disputes

Qilianyu islands in the Paracel chain, which China considers part of Hainan province WASHINGTON, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States warned China not to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to exert itself in the South China Sea after Vietnam said Beijing sank a trawler. Amid the global focus…