Senegal extends state of emergency for coronavirus

Senegalese President Macky Sall has extended for 30 days the state of emergency introduced throughout the country in response to the new coronavirus, the state media reported. The state of emergency first announced by the head of state on 23 March is accompanied by a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (same hours GMT). […]

UK students use 3D printers to produce masks

A group of students in the United Kingdom has found productive ways to eliminate the boredom of a lockdown by making yourself useful against the coronavirus. This group of students has returned to classrooms in the UK to produce protective equipment. The masks are designed using 3D technology. “We have a total of 500 orders. […]

GettyImages 1208882768

Close up’ social distancing as Lagos distributes coronavirus food aid

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, is the country’s most impacted with coronavirus infection. As of April 3, Lagos alone accounted for 98 out of 190 cases recorded across Africa’s most populous country. The state government led by governor BabaJide Sanwo-Olu weeks back announced a stimulus package to cushion the less vulnerable members of the state. But […]

Kenya secures $50m coronavirus loan from World Bank, cases hit 110

Kenya’s request to the World Bank for $50m to fund containment efforts of the coronavirus pandemic has been approved according to Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe. Minister Kagwe confirms that the funds will largely go into boosting capacity of frontline staff – i.e. buying protective gear for health workers, hand sanitizers, increasing bed capacity in hospitals […]

images 1 1

UAE Launches Largest Testing Lab For Fight Against Covid-19

Group 42, G42, the leading technology company based in Abu Dhabi, and global genomics leader BGI, announced on Tuesday (March 31, 2020) the launch of a new massive-throughput laboratory built to address the need for population-scale detection and diagnosis of COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates. The lab is capable of conducting tens of thousands […]

tewhida ben sheikh 1b661790 3087 4ac3 8078 1a07c33717f resize 750 1585743884774

Tunisia puts first woman doctor, Tewhida ben Sheikh, on new banknotes

Tunisia’s apex bank, Central Bank of Tunisia last Thursday, March 26, unveiled new banknotes honouring a female history maker in the country’s medical history. The bank disclosed that the new 10 Tunisian dinar note would feature female doctor Tewhida ben Sheikh, the first woman to make it onto the country’s currency. Ben Sheikh, born in […]

download 1 1585654263873 1585654425837

Gombe loses N800m to oil price crash –NLC

The Gombe State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Musa Mohammed, has called on civil servants in the state to remain calm. Mohammed stated this at a joint minimum wage committee meeting which held in the office of the state Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau. He said workers in the state should be calm and appreciate the current […]

Queen Elizabeth II 750x405 1

Concerns over Queen Elizabeth’s health amidst Coronavirus Pandemic

There are growing concerns about the health of Queen Elizabeth II following the diagnosis of her son, Prince Charles, who tested positive for Coronavirus. The monarch was reportedly exposed to the virus during one of her weekly meetings with Prime Minister Boris Johnson who tested positive during the week. The monarch held a face-to-face with […]

Coronavirus: Rwanda, two Nigerian states ‘feeding’ poor amid restrictions

The Rwandan government on Saturday, March 28, kick started a support initiative aimed at vulnerable families adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. Rwanda currently has 60 confirmed cases. President Paul Kagame had in a national address late last week highlighted the resolve of government to do everything possible to support vulnerable Rwandans during the […]

RTS31P5A layout comp e1583922421890

Anti-‘Boo-hari’ tweet by Iranian topples coronavirus on Nigeria Twitter trends

Despite the coronavirus pandemic dominating news and social media spaces since the last few weeks, there is a ‘competitor’ that on Friday dethroned coronavirus to become the top Twitter trend in Nigeria. Mohammed Tawhidi threw jibes at Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian president, and whiles at it he has generated a heated debate among Nigerians. Tawhidi, […]

A coronavirus patient being stretchered away in US e1585256858177

U.S. overtakes China, Italy as world’s worst-hit by coronavirus

The United States overtook China and Italy on Thursday as the world’s worst-hit country by the raging coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. took the morbid distinction after new 14,336 confirmed cases were added. The record figure shot the country to the top of the table with 82,547 cases. China where the pandemic began late last year […]

download 13

Coronavirus restrictions enforced by Kenya police on transport, markets

Kenya police fired tear gas to bring an end to the activities of local ‘Matatu’ commercial transport drivers. It is feared that the use of these minibuses will help spread the COVID-19 infection. Police are also stopping markets from taking place and telling traders to stay at home. The measures are part of government restriction […]

1585154736213989 0

Turkey accused of supplying arms to Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram

Turkey has been branded a “terrorist state” and is under investigation by the Nigerian military over allegations it supplied “sophisticated weapons” to jihadist terror group Boko Haram, according to a senior army official. In the latest revelation linking Turkey’s authoritarian President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to jihadists, it is claimed that Turkish Airlines was responsible for […]

1 1585153781124

Industrial pollution across Asia, Europe drops due to coronavirus

Global pollution has significantly declined thanks to the coronavirus pandemic which has slowed industrial production across the world. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sentinel-5P earth-observation satellite, captured this development as northern Italy went into lockdown due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak. From 1 January to 11 March, northern Italy’s nitrogen dioxide levels dropped. Simonetta Cheli […]

Rwanda enforcing coronavirus lockdown

Rwanda became one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to impose a lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic. The East African country is the most impacted in the region with 17 confirmed cases. With the shutdown, authorities are imposing some of the strictest coronavirus measures in Africa where infections are rising fast with fear that […]

101794657 gettyimages 936807934 1584978095774

Jihadists seize key town in Mozambique

Islamist insurgents have seized control of a key town in northern Mozambique, close to where foreign companies are working on a $60bn (£52bn) natural gas project. The militants staged an overnight attack on Mocimboa de Praia, taking a military base and raising their flag, police said. The army and police have launched a counter-offensive, police […]

Cuban doctors and nurses in Havana before leaving for Italy

Cuba despatches doctors, nurses to COVID-19 ravaged Italy

Cuba said it has dispatched a brigade of doctors and nurses to Italy to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus at the request of the worst-affected region Lombardy. The medical team of 52 left Havana on Saturday for Italy. This is the first time Cuba has sent an emergency contingent to Italy, one […]

download 2 6

Uganda’s Tumukunde charged with treason

A Kampala court on Wednesday remanded Ugandan presidential aspirant Lt-Gen Henry Tumukunde in Luzira prison until March 30 on charges of illegal possession of firearms and treason. City Hall Court Grade One Magistrate Valerian Tuhimbise advised Tumukunde not to take plea as the court had no jurisdiction to hear the capital case. The retired general […]