Covid-19: Colombia goes into lockdown, Chile extends schools closures

MONTEVIDEO, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Countries across Latin America tightened measures on Wednesday to halt the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, with more lockdowns, border closings and school closures as well as increased aid to the region’s poorest. As cases of COVID-19 cases continue to rise — more than…

Covid-19: More than 1,000 US deaths, near 70,000 cases – tracker

A group of young people wear protective masks as they walk near the Washington Monument WASHINGTON, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of deaths caused by the novel coronavirus rose to 1,031 in the United States on Wednesday, with 68,572 confirmed cases nationwide, a tracker run by the Johns Hopkins…

New locust swarms invade farms in Kenya

NAIROBI, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Farmers in Kenya’s South Rift region are grappling with new swarms of desert locusts.They are worried that the invasion could lead to major losses and hunger, given that aerial spraying of the insects has been put on hold in some places due to the Coronavirus…

Sudan’s defence minister dies of heart attack in South Sudan while attending peace talks

Lt-Gen Jamal Omar reportedly died of heart attack JUBA, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s defence minister, General Gamal al-Din Omar, has died of a heart attack while on an official visit to neighbouring South Sudan, according to the Sudanese officials. Omar was in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, taking part in…

Covid-19: Ethiopia freeing 4,000 inmates in Coronavirus battle

ADDIS ABABA, Marc h 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 4,000 prisoners will be released in Ethiopia as the government continues to take measures to control the spread of Coronavirus. The country’s attorney general said that prisoners convicted of minor offences and women with babies were among those who would be freed.…

Covid-19: Rwandan who breached lockdown to go fishing ‘killed by crocodile’

Crocodiles live in most rivers in Rwanda KIGALI, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man in Rwanda who breached the ongoing lockdown to reportedly go fishing has been killed and eaten by a crocodile, the mayor of the southern Kamonyi district said. Alice Kayitesi said the Wednesday morning incident happened in…

Covid-19: DR Congo president’s aide dies of virus, country’s third death

Jean-Joseph Mukendi wa Mulumba KINSHASA, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The third person to die of Covid-19 complications in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a respected human rights lawyer and an aide of President Félix Tshisekedi. Jean-Joseph Mukendi Wa Mulumba was the acting head of President Tshisekedi’s legal advisory council.…

Covid-19: Nigerian army prepares for lockdown, mass burials as top govt officials tested positive

ABUJA, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian Army is preparing to forcibly transfer the sick to hospital and enforce curbs on movement to try to shield the country from coronavirus, and is leasing equipment for “possible mass burial”, according to an army memo. The memo from Army headquarters also outlines…

Boko Haram kill 92 Chadian soldiers in ‘deadliest attack’

Chadian soldiers have been fighting Boko Haram insurgency since 2015 N’DJAMENA, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The president of Chad says 92 soldiers have been killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants.President Idriss Deby said the attack early on Monday was the deadliest yet in the five-year campaign by the…

Five killed in IED attack near Somali-Kenyan border

MOGADISHU, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least five people were killed, including a district commissioner, when an improvised explosive device targeted their vehicle near the Somali-Kenyan border Wednesday.Guled Abdirahman, a police official in Lower Juba region, said that the roadside bombing also wounded several others.“A landmine targeted a vehicle carrying…