British Airways grounds all flights to and from Gatwick Airport

British Airways has grounded all flights to and from Gatwick Airport due to coronavirus but still operate from London Heathrow at a severely reduced schedule. This is due to the ‘considerable restrictions and challenging market environment’ amid the coronavirus pandemic, a spokesperson said.
They continued: ‘Like many other airlines, we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick. We are contacting affected customers to discuss their options.’

Florida pastor arrested for holding fully-packed church services despite stay-at-home order

A Florida Pastor, Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne has been arrested by the police for holding fully-packed church services despite a stay-at-home order in the state.   Prior to his arrest, the evangelical pastor had insisted that he wouldn't close the doors of his Tampa Bay megachurch until the End Times begin. He also encouraged those in attendance at his River at Tampa Bay Church to shake hands, to show they were not afraid of contracting the coronavirus. A video from the church service on Sunday March 29, showed dozens of people packed inside the church and standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

Van Gogh painting worth £5m stolen from Dutch museum currently closed due to coronavirus

A painting by Vincent van Gogh has been stolen from a Dutch museum currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.  The museum was closed on March 2 in line with national measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
 Police said the painting with an estimated value of up to £5m was stolen on Monday at the Singer Laren Museum in what appeared to be a smash-and-grab from the front entrance.

Portugal gives migrants and asylum-seekers full citizenship rights during coronavirus pandemic

Portugal has temporarily given all migrants and asylum seekers full citizenship rights, granting them full access to the country's healthcare as the outbreak of the novel coronavirus escalates in the country.
 The move will "unequivocally guarantee the rights of all the foreign citizens" with applications pending with Portuguese immigration, meaning they are "in a situation of regular permanence in National Territory," until June 30, the Portuguese Council of Ministers have said.
 The Portuguese Council of Ministers explained that the decision was taken to "reduce the risks for public health" of maintaining the current scheduling of appointments at the immigration office, for both the border agents and the migrants and asylum seekers.

Malaysia's King and Queen quarantined after seven palace staff test positive for coronavirus

Malaysia's King and Queen have been quarantined after seven palace staff members from Istana Negara tested positive for coronavirus.  King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and his wife Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have both tested negative for the infection, but they decided to go on self-quarantine for 14 days, beginning Wednesday,  Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, the Comptroller of the Royal Household said in a statement.
He also said that all seven staff members are currently receiving treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and they are in stable condition.

'Anyone seen in the streets will serve as an example' - Drug gangs in Brazil's lawless City of God impose strict coronavirus curfews to residents

Drug traffickers and militias in Rio de Janeiro's lawless Cidade de Deus (City of God) favela in Brazil, have taken the law into their own hands by imposing strict curfews on residents over the deadly coronavirus spreading all over the world.
 The move comes after Brazil's Health Ministry confirmed 2,201 cases of COVID-19 and 46 deaths from the virus on Tuesday.

Dead bodies loaded into refrigerated trucks outside New York hospitals after 98 people die from coronavirus in seven hours

Horrifying video footage has emerged of dead bodies being loaded onto a refrigerated truck outside a Brooklyn Hospital in New York City as 36,000 have been infected by the virus and over 790 people have died in the state. The horrifying video shows the dead bodies being loaded onto a vehicle as makeshift morgues and hospitals are now all over New York City, the epicenter of the virus in the US.
According to New York City officials, this is the biggest deployment of makeshift morgues in the city since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

US hospitals threaten to fire doctors who speak up about their working conditions

Hospitals are threatening to fire health-care workers who publicise their working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic - and have in some cases followed through. Ming Lin, an emergency room physician in Washington state, said he was told Friday he was out of a job because he’d given an interview to a newspaper about a Facebook post detailing what he believed to be inadequate protective equipment and testing. In Chicago, a nurse was fired after emailing colleagues that she wanted to wear a more protective mask while on duty. In New York, the NYU Langone Health system has warned employees they could be terminated if they talk to the media without authorisation.

Coronavirus: 150 Tunisians self-isolate in factory to make masks

Employees at a Tunisian factory are churning out 50,000 face masks a day and other protective medical gear after opting to go into lockdown at work. The 150 workers, mainly women, have isolated themselves at the Consomed factory for a month.
They were spurred on by patriotism as the country battles coronavirus, their manager Hamza Alouini told the BBC.
Employee Khawla Rebhi said she greatly missed her family, but her colleagues' good cheer provided some compensation.

Prince Albert of Monaco tests positive for coronavirus

The 62-year-old billionaire is the reigning monarch of Monaco and the son of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly, who went on to become the Princess of Monaco. He is married to former South African swimmer, Charlene Wittstock, now Princess Charlene. In a statement on Thursday afternoon they said, "Prince Albert II of Monaco, who was tested earlier this week, is positive for Covid-19."
"His state of health is not a source of concern," the statement continued, adding that the prince is receiving treatment and self-quarantining at home.

Coronavirus Testing kits heading to the UK contaminated with the disease

Coronavirus testing kits that are due to arrive in the UK have been contaminated with the novel disease.  The news comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has now been infected with the disease said 3.5 million antibody tests have been ordered to enable health officials to carry out 11,000 tests a day.  According to the Daily Telegraph, it has been discovered that key components ordered from Eurofins, a company based in Luxembourg, had been contaminated with COVID-19.

US authorities delay tax filing deadline by three months

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the administration of President Donald Trump has decided to push the income tax filing date to July 15 from April 15. Mnuchin announced the decision in a tweet on Friday saying that at Trump's direction "we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties."

Former President of Congo, Jacques Joaquim Yhombi dies of coronavirus in France

Former Republic of Congo president, Jacques Joaquim Yhombi Opango has passed away after contracting coronavirus (COVID-19). He was 81.  Yhombi-Opango died in a Paris hospital on Monday, his family confirmed to AFP.  His son told the news agency that Yhombi-Opango was ill before he contracted the virus.
 Yhombi-Opango, who was an army officer who rose to power after the assassination of President Marien Ngouabi, led Congo-Brazzaville from 1977 until he was removed from power in 1979, with the country's current leader, Denis Sassou Nguesso taking over.

Thai king allegedly flees country and now self-isolating in a luxury hotel with harem of 20 women in Germany

Thailand’s controversial king has allegedly fled his country and is now self-isolating in a luxury hotel in the Alpine resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany.  King Maha Vajiralongkorn ,67, also known as Rama X, is said to have booked out the entire Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl after the four-star hotel received “special permission” from the district council to accommodate the king and his entourage.
 According to German tabloid Bild, the entourage included a “harem” of 20 concubines and numerous servants. But it's unclear if his four wives are with him.

Dogs being trained to smell coronavirus to help in battle against disease

Man’s best friend could be about to become humanity’s best friend after a charity said it believes dogs can smell coronavirus. Medical Detection Dogs, which already does pioneering work in cancer research and diabetes detection, hope they will soon play a vital role in halting the spread.
The charity, based outside Milton Keynes, is working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Durham University. They believe dogs could be trained to sniff out the disease within six weeks to provide a rapid, non-invasive diagnosis.

Coronavirus: Argentina detains 6,000 people

Argentinian security forces have detained more than 6,000 people since extensive restrictions on personal movement were introduced in a bid to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. Criminal charges have been filed against 6,191 suspects throughout the country, the presidential office said in a statement late on Thursday. The police also said they had confiscated 938 vehicles.

Do you know...

If you make ice cubes with tap water, they will be white; if you use boiled water, they will be transparent.

Women’s football: FIFA ranks Nigeria first in Africa

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been ranked as the first team in Africa after moving up by one spot to place 38th in the world in the FIFA Women’s World Football Ranking. In the ranking table for the month of March on the website of world football governing body FIFA on Thursday, Nigeria garnered 1,614 points. Nigeria placed first in Africa ahead of Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana, and Ivory Coast who are second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Dozens of healthcare workers in America have tested positive for coronavirus

Dozens of healthcare workers across the US are testing positive for coronavirus as they battle the highly-infectious disease on the front lines. At a Chicago suburban hospital, two emergency room physicians have been diagnosed with the virus.
Meanwhile, in nearby St Louis, Missouri, two doctors associated with Washington University tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
And 200 people Children's Hospital have been tested for coronavirus after a doctor was confirmed to have the virus.
It comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention loosens their guidelines and says healthcare workers can work even if they've been exposed to coronavirus as long as they wear a mask.

Coronavirus: China imposes entry ban, cancels visas

China’s Foreign Ministry announced Friday the temporary suspension of all entries into the country  from Saturday. The entry restriction came as the coronavirus pandemic hits over 540,000 people worldwide and the United States upstaged China  and Italy as the new epicentre of the virus.
” It is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries,” the foreign ministry said in a statement..
The  restriction  affects foreign nationals holding valid visas or residence permits.

Ajax star wakes from coma after two years and nine months

Ajax star Abdelhak 'Appie' Nouri is fully out of a coma and able to communicate with family after going home, his brother has revealed. The 22-year-old Dutch ace collapsed on the pitch in July 2017 after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia attack. He sustained severe and permanent brain damage as a result of the incident.

Divorce rates in New York rapidly increases as couples are forced to spend time together in quarantine

Divorce rates have rapidly increased in New York due to couples staying in for self-quarantine.  In a report by Page Six, most of these couples seeking divorce are involuntarily spending time together in small apartments or houses that can cause tension throughout this critical time.
 Another factor contributing to the increased divorce rates is the recent loss of jobs and plummeting stocks among the wealthy.

A PhD student proved one of Darwin's theories of evolution 140 years after his death

When Charles Darwin published "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, his evolutionary theories permanently shook up science and the way researchers studied the natural world. And while his seminal work laid the foundation for evolutionary biology, one major point of his was never proven.
Until now.
Nearly 140 years after his death, a University of Cambridge researcher has found strong evidence that one of Darwin's hypotheses is true. That hypothesis states that a species belonging to a larger genus should also include more subspecies.

South Africa charge two men with attempted murder for refusing to stay at home after testing positive for COVID-19

South African police have charged two men with attempted murder for allegedly continuing to go out after they tested positive for the coronavirus, exposing others to the infection. Police minister Bheki Cele announced the charges on Wednesday during a press conference detailing the enforcement of an incoming lockdown meant to curb the spread of coronavirus.
“If you break these laws of regulations you are six months in, or fined, or both,” said Cele.
“Two people have been charged already… who deliberately moved around after they were told” not to, he warned.

Do you know…..the Pacific Ocean is shrinking

As North America and South America are move more westward, the Pacific Ocean is shrinking. Every year, Asia and North America get closer and closer as the Pacific is reduced by two to three centimeters.

Juventus players waive four months' wages due to coronavirus outbreak

The Juventus players and manager have reached an agreement over a wage reduction that will save the club €90m (£81m), it was announced on Saturday. Maurizio Sarri and his players will take what amounts to a four-month pay cut to help the Italian champions during the coronavirus crisis.
The agreement comes at a time when leading clubs around Europe have had to slash wage bills because of the dramatic impact of matches being postponed or played behind closed doors due to the spread of the virus.

We cannot close down churches and mosques because of coronavirus, it cannot survive in the body of Jesus - Tanzania's President, John Magufuli

Tanzania's President, John Magufuli has revealed why his government cannot close down churches and mosques in the East African country over coronavirus.   Speaking at a church service he attended, Magufuli stated that coronavirus is of the devil and cannot survive while in the “body of Christ”.
 The President who has a PhD in chemistry from The University of Dar es Salaam (2009), added that churches and mosques are the only place where true healing can be found.
 He said;
 “These Holy places are where God is. My fellow Tanzanians, let us not be afraid of going to praise Him.
“Corona cannot survive in the body of Christ, it will burn. That is exactly why I did not panic while taking the Holy communion."

Coronavirus: German army loses 6 million masks in Kenya

The defence ministry in Berlin on Tuesday March 24, confirmed that a German army shipment of six million face masks "vanished" in Kenya.   Though it is not clear why the shipment which had protective gears was transiting via the east African country, it was however due to arrive Germany on March 20.
 The German army’s procurement office plagued in normal times by equipment shortages and breakdowns, is providing the health ministry with logistical support during the coronavirus crisis.

Cheating husband gets coronavirus on secret break to Italy with his mistress... but is now in isolation in UK with his wife who has no idea how he caught it

A cheating husband who caught coronavirus on a secret break to Italy with his mistress is now in isolation in the UK with his wife who has no idea how he caught it. The woman has no idea how her partner caught Covid-19 but the man confessed to medical coordinators in the north of England.
He told them that he contracted the virus while he was on a secret holiday in the hotspot.
The 'well-heeled' male who The Sun reports works in a 'high-flying job' refused to name the mystery female he's been seeing.

Britain’s deputy ambassador to Hungary, Steven Dick dies at 37 after contracting coronavirus

Britain’s deputy ambassador to Hungary, Steven Dick, has died in Budapest after contracting coronavirus.  The Foreign Office confirmed in a statement that he died on Tuesday, March 26 after contracting Covid-19
 UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "I am desperately saddened by the news of Steven's death and my heart goes out to his parents Steven and Carol."
 "Steven was a dedicated diplomat and represented his country with great skill and passion. He will be missed by all those who knew him and worked with him."

Do you know….there’s an island within a lake on an island within a lake on an island

In the Philippines, you'll find Vulcan Point, an island within Main Crater Lake.
Main Crater Lake is located on Volcano Island.
Volcano Island is located in Lake Taal.
Lake Taal is located on the island of Luzon.
And there you have an island within a lake on an island within a lake on an island.

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

The United States has now overtaken China and Italy as the world’s worst-hit country by the raging coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. took the morbid distinction Thursday night after the daily confirmed cases of a record 13, 685 were added, shooting the country to the top of the table with 81,896 cases.
China where the pandemic began late last year has 81,285 cases and Italy, the worst hit country in Europe has 80, 589 cases.

South Korea raises concerns over Japan's plan to release contaminated water

South Korea on Thursday renewed its concerns about Japan’s plan to release contaminated water from its disabled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. South Korea’s Office for Government Policy Coordination said Japan should ensure that its plan does not affect the health and safety of South Koreans or the maritime ecosystem. South Korea’s latest move came two days after Tokyo Electric Power, the operator of the ruined nuclear power plant, came up with a plan to release the contaminated water over 30 years.
An estimated 1.1 million tons of tainted water is in temporary storage at the Fukushima plant, which was devastated by a tsunami triggered by an earthquake in 2011. In October 2019, South Korea urged Japan to make efforts to win consensus from neighbouring countries on handling the water at a meeting of the Britain-based International Maritime Organisation.

Kenya president and Vice President take 80% salary cut to fund fight against coronavirus

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has announced that he is taking an 80% salary cut alongside Vice President William Ruto, to fund the fight against coronavirus in the country.  Uhuru also disclosed that members of the federal cabinet would have their salaries slashed by 30 percent, while salaries of chief administrative secretaries and principal secretaries would be reduced by 30 percent and 20 percent respectively.
 The Kenyan President who made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday March 25, said the salary cut was voluntarily agreed upon by him and the officials to fund the fight against coronavirus in the East African country which has 28 confirmed cases.

Airline offers to pay passengers up to $8,570 if they catch coronavirus after flying with them

A Vietnamese airline looking to get customers during the coronavirus slowdown is offering passengers an incentive.  Vietjet’s has offered their passengers an insurance plan that will pay them up to $8,570 if they catch the deadly coronavirus after flying with them.
 Vietjet’s "Sky Covid Care" insurance is provided free of charge for all eligible passengers regardless of their age or nationality, on all domestic flights until June 30, according to the UK’s Independent.
 The carrier said: "With the insurance, passengers are eligible for insurance coverage and benefits from Vietjet within 30 days starting at 00:01 of the flight date, regardless of how passengers are infected with the disease."

Quarantined woman 'kills herself' in Kenya

Kenyan media report that a woman who was being quarantined in the western city of Nakuru has taken her own life. Health workers found her dead at the Kenya Industrial Training Institute facility where she was being held, having apparently hung herself, local media say.
Local government officials also state that initial police investigations are "pointing to suicide".
The woman was said to be in her 20s. Nakuru county officials confirmed she arrived in Kenya from South Africa on Wednesday. They are not naming her until they have contacted her next of kin.

Uganda suspends all public transport to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after 14 confirmed cases

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday evening announced the suspension of all public transport for 14 days with immediate effect in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.  Museveni made the announcement in a televised live address following a cabinet meeting after new cases of coronavirus were confirmed earlier in the day.
 “The government has decided to suspend, for 14 days, all public transport. This means all taxis, all minibuses, all buses, all passenger trains, all tuk tuks and all the boda bodas are suspended. Why? Because we want to minimize movement,” Museveni said.

Coronavirus: Zimbabwe reintroduces foreign currencies use

Zimbabwe has reintroduced the use of foreign currencies for domestic transactions, which it had banned last June, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The move announced is expected help the country to access private foreign exchange savings as it gears up for the battle against the virus.
Zimbabwe had used a number of foreign currencies since hyperinflation forced the government to ditch the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009. Last year's ban on foreign currency was intended to restore normalcy to the economy.

Instagram is removing coronavirus-related content not shared by health organizations in order to stop false claims from spreading

Instagram has announced they have started removing coronavirus-related content and accounts from recommendations and 'Explore' unless posted by credible health organizations.  The Facebook-owned app said the move is to stop false claims and conspiracy theories that have been flagged by authorities from causing harm to the public during the pandemic.
 According to the social media giants, users who search for information related to the coronavirus will be presented with an educational message connecting them to resources from the World Health Organization and local health ministries.

First Covid-19 deaths in South Africa announced as infection toll reaches 1,000

Hours after South Africa went into lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the Minister of Health announced on Friday 27 March that two people had succumbed to Covid-19. The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has announced that two patients died of Covid-19 in the Western Cape on Thursday night.
“This morning, we wake South Africans up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from Covid-19. These two deaths occurred in the Western Cape; one at a private hospital and the other at a public hospital,” Mkhize said.

Walmart wants to hire 150,000 temporary workers as the coronavirus pandemic continues

Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, plans to hire 150,000 temporary workers by the end of May as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep through the country.
The company said it is hiring the associates to work in stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers.
"These roles will be temporary at first, but many will convert to permanent roles over time," Walmart said in a press release. "We've reached out to industry groups representing restaurants and hospitality to facilitate temporary roles that can be a bridge for their employees during this difficult time."

In Madrid, 80% of people expected to get Covid-19, official says

Eight out of ten people in the Spanish capital will get Covid-19, according to the president of the Region of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
"They will have mild symptoms," she said, but added that "it will be a problem" for the vulnerable population, which is around 15% of people.
"This virus has been in Spain for a longer time and is going to spread to practically everyone, and in most, it will not leave lasting marks. But the problem is the vulnerable population," said Díaz Asuyo in an interview on Spanish radio.

Worship in churches and mosques suspended in Kenya

Religious leaders in Kenya have suspended worship in some churches and mosques after the country confirmed seven coronavirus cases. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa, All Saints' Cathedral of Anglican Church, Christ is the Answer Ministries, Kenya Assemblies of God and the Nairobi Chapel have suspended congregational worship.
All the five churches said they would live stream Sunday services on social media platforms.

Russian theater performing for one spectator at a time

Usually it’s the artists for whom a solo is the ultimate prize. Now it is the audience. Starting this month, Russia’s Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre will stream its performances online and allow just one spectator in the theater to watch in person.
Called “One-On-One,” the project is designed to create a new kind of interaction with the public at a time when a growing number of coronavirus cases are limiting outings and gatherings.

Portsmouth rocked by coronavirus crisis as three first-team players test positive

League One club, Portsmouth, has been rocked by coronavirus as three of their first-team squad have tested positive for the disease.   The club had their entire first-team playing and coaching staff tested earlier this week for the virus but the first batch of results has revealed that James Bolton, Andy Cannon, and Sean Raggett all have coronavirus.
 Portsmouth is now waiting for the rest of the results to know the fate of others.

Coronavirus: UK deaths rise by more than 100 in a day

The number of coronavirus deaths in the UK has jumped by more than 100 in a day for the first time. The death toll has risen from 475 to 578, health officials have confirmed, with 11,658 confirmed cases. The latest figures came after Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled an aid programme to help the self-employed. People across the UK have taken part in a national applause of thanks for NHS workers and carers helping in the fight against coronavirus. The Queen said the UK was "enormously thankful" for the commitment of all those working in science, health and the emergency and public services.

Coronavirus: Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19

The prime minster tweeted a video message confirming he had COVID-19, adding: "Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus.  "I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus.
"Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives."
Downing Street said Mr Johnson had been tested on the advice of his chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, having been experiencing "mild symptoms" on Thursday.
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Rwandan police shoot dead two people who defied coronavirus lockdown orders

Rwandan police shot and killed two people who defied lockdown orders imposed by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus.  The two men in their twenties "attempted to tussle with officers," Rwanda National Police spokesman John Bosco Kabera said by phone Wednesday, Bloomberg reports.
 Rwanda began a two-week lockdown on March 22, restricting travel between towns and cities and asking people to stay indoors. Its measures are among the most stringent in Africa.
 The East African nation has 40 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Coronavirus latest: Italy bans internal travel to stop spread

Italy has moved to stop all travel within the country, in a further escalation of its attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, as more than 5,400 people have died in the country from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.
Spain, the second-worst affected country in Europe, plans to extend a state of emergency until April 11, after recording more than 1,700 deaths.
More than 14,500 people have died from COVID-19 globally. An estimated 98,000 of the 336,000 people who have been diagnosed with the disease across the world have recovered, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
I'm Mersiha Gadzo in Doha taking over the blog from my colleague Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur with Al Jazeera's continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bill Cosby’s team wants him released from jail amid Coronavirus outbreak

Bill Cosby's legal team wants him released from prison due to his health concerns and the ongoing coronavirus crisis.  The 82-year-old disgraced comedian has been serving a three to ten-year sentence at the SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County prison facility for sexual assault, and due to age and underlying medical conditions, his legal team are preparing to file a petition at Pennsylvania Exceptional Court docket in the next number of days seeking for him to be moved to household arrest.