Covid-19: Boy, 14, charged with assault for ‘coughing on pensioner’ in UK

LONDON, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 14-year-old boy is among people charged with coronavirus-related offences following a spate of arrests. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly coughed and spat on a pensioner while shouting about the virus. Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to Ashton-under-Lyme…

Covid-19: South Africa announces start of mass testing

South Africa is on day five of a three-week lockdown ordered last week PRETORIA, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a mass screening programme for coronavirus. The president said 10,000 field workers will be visiting homes to screen people – and those found with symptoms…

Covid-19: US evacuates nationals caught up in Nigeria lockdown

ABUJA, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US is evacuating its nationals from Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos and the capital, Abuja, after the two cities were were placed on a two-week lockdown in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The US embassy has tweeted that multiple emergency flights will…

Covid-19: Kenya wants 50 MPs tested

NAIROBI, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya’s lower parliamentary chamber wants some 50 lawmakers to be tested for coronavirus amid fears they may have contracted the virus from a member who recently tested positive.Local media reports say the parliament has submitted the names of MPs and parliamentary staff it wants tested…

Covid-19: EU announces help for Balkans after criticism

BRUSSELS, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU announced nearly 40 million euros to help Western Balkan countries deal with the coronavirus, after Brussels came under fire for not doing enough for its neighbours. A further 140 million euros was announced for the European Union’s “eastern partner” countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,…

Covid-19: More countries reject Chinese-made equipment

The Netherlands has been among the countries reporting faulty Chinese-made equipment PARIS, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) —A number of European governments have rejected Chinese-made equipment designed to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Thousands of testing kits and medical masks are below standard or defective, according to authorities in Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands. Europe…

Covid-19: Panama to restrict movement by gender during virus quarantine

PANAMA CITY, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of Panama announced strict quarantine measures that separate citizens by gender in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. From Wednesday, men and women will only be able to leave their homes for two hours at a time, and…

Covid-19: Congo ex-president Yombi Opango dies in France

BRAZZAVILLE, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Republic of Congo president Jacques Joaquim Yhombi Opango died in France on Monday of the new coronavirus, his family said. He was 81. Yhombi Opango, who led Congo-Brazzaville from 1977 until he was toppled in 1979, died at a Paris hospital of COVID-19, his…

Update: Global lockdown tightens as Covid-19 deaths mount

PARIS, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Harsh lockdowns aimed at halting themarch of the coronavirus pandemic extended worldwide Monday as the death toll soared past 37,600 amid new waves of US outbreaks. Despite slivers of hope in stricken Italy and Spain, the tough measuresthat have confined some two-fifths of the globe’s…

Covid-19: Major airlines urge US Treasury to disburse assistance quickly with American Airlines seeking $12bn bailout

NEW YORK, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Major US airlines asked the US Treasury to move quickly to release up to $58 billion in government grants and loans and recommended a formula to divide up the money.In a letter, carriers wrote that “given the urgent and immediate need, it is essential…