Covid-19: African finance ministers seek $100b cushion against coronavirus

South African Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni PRETORIA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — African finance ministers have appealed for a $100 billion bailout package from international lenders to cushion their economies from effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has put the entire continent in virtual lockdown. In an appeal signed by…

Covid-19: Kenyan boy shot dead as virus curfew enforced

Police are enforcing nightly curfews to stop coronavirus spreading NAIROBI, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya’s police chief has ordered an investigation into the death of a 13-year-old boy said to have been shot on Monday evening as police enforced a curfew. The child was playing on the balcony of his…

DR Congo battles five diseases – malaria, measles, cholera, coronavirus and ebola

DR Congo needs to invest more in its health system, Unicef says KINSHASA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations children’s agency (Unicef) says the Democratic Republic of Congo’s healthcare system needs urgent support or children’s futures will be destroyed. The vast, conflict-ridden country is struggling to cope with five…

Covid-19: Ethiopia postpones polls because of coronavirus

Women in a voting booth ADDIS ABABA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia’s electoral board has postponed August’s highly anticipated general election because of the coronavirus pandemic.A new schedule would be announced once the threat of the pandemic was over, the board said. Ethiopia has so far recorded 25 cases without…

Covid-19: Worldwide lockdown hardens as Spain sees deadliest day

MADRID, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tightened lockdowns across the planetsaw nearly half of humanity told to stay at home in a bid to stem thespiralling coronavirus pandemic, as Spain recorded its deadliest day Tuesday and the United States braced for the full impact of the disease. The virus has claimed…

Covid-19: President of Mozambique declares state of emergency from April 1

MAPUTO, March 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19 for 30 days, starting from April 1. In his Monday speech to the nation, broadcast live on national television and radio, the president said the decision had been sent to the parliament…

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: 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…
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