Covid-19: Italy rushes new doctors into service as deaths rise above 2,500

Rome’s Town Hall is lit up with the colours of the Italian flag to show solidarity with the country as it continues to battle coronavirus ROME, March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy will rush 10,000 student doctors into service, scrapping their final exams, in an effort to help the struggling health…

LatAm hunkers down amid rising caseload of COVID-19

A passenger arrives at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires MEXICO CITY, March 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 100 in both Peru and Ecuador on Tuesday, and Ecuador’s government has begun implementing some of the harshest measures in Latin America. A total of 31 more…

Covid-19: Irish PM calls on public to be prepared for prolonged impact of coronavirus outbreak

Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar  DUBLIN, March 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar called on the public to be fully prepared for a prolonged impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the country and promised that his government will do whatever it requires to do in the battle against the…

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…