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.