Here is the latest Coronavirus news – At the time of writing, 500 people have now died of the virus with another 24,000 infected. The number of deaths now surpasses that of the SARS outbreak in China of 2002/2003.
The good news, if one can use the word good, is that the mortality rate is just 2%. Quarantine and control seem to be the route to go.
Nine passengers and one crew member on board the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship presently moored off the coast of Yokohama, Japan have tested positive for the virus.
The symptoms appear to be similar to a really bad dose of flu. No, not the “I’m feeling fluey” type, which is usually a sniffle or cold, but serious respiratory infection coupled with a fever and dry cough.
Hong Kong’s national airline, Cathay Pacific has been all but grounded due to the lockdown and is struggling for survival. They have requested their staff of 27,000 take voluntary unpaid leave.
The developing latest Coronavirus news shows us just how small the world is and how intertwined we all are.
Meanwhile, a bar in Hamilton, New Zealand has caused outrage by advertising a Corona beer special while the virus lasts. I wondered how long it would take. Always a buck to make with someone else’s misfortune.
Africa in the News
Jacob Zuma, and warrant of arrest in one sentence. Wow! Big enough news to affect the exchange rate and the value of the South African Rand. The currency made a delighted jump against all major currencies with the news.
Former South African president, Jacob Zuma has been evading justice for years, the latest ploy being an illness. His delaying tactics has resulted in an angry trial judge, Dhaya Pillay issuing a warrant of arrest. Zuma is charged with corruption for his part in a dubious arms deal, amongst numerous other dubious escapades. Apart from him being a “suspected” crooked politician, he is also quite a comic from time to time. Known for using state funds to upgrade his home (more like a village) called Nkandla, he had a large swimming pool installed which he claimed was not a swimming pool but a security fire pool. He always said that he wanted his day in court. Bring on justice.
While Zuma is busy squirming, one of his African mentors, former President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi has died aged 95. Also a suspected crooked politician of note, he was hounded by Amnesty International for his part in the abuse of human rights. He was never tried in court. He probably also wanted his day in court to prove his innocence. Somehow, he never got around to it.
Colonel Mike Hoare. “Mad Mike”
Still in Africa, this week, news broke of the death of Colonel Mike Hoare, known as “Mad Mike”, a title which he loved. The world’s most well-known mercenary, died quietly in a care facility in Durban, aged over 100 years. Well known for his campaigns in the 1960s in the Congo, working for President Moise Tshombe, he and his soldiers of fortune put down the Simba Rebellion, which was a proxy war between the US and the Soviet Union. Gruesome stories of nurses and nuns being savaged and hung up in public emerged from the region. Centred on the outskirts of Leopoldville, the uprising occurred immediately after independence from Belgium.
Born of Irish parents in India, he rose to the rank of Major in the British Army during the Second World War and had an embarrassing end of career in 1981. He led a failed coup to the Seychelles which saw him jailed for twenty years. After serving 3 years, he was released. He relocated to France, where he lived for twenty years before returning to Africa. An interesting fact about him was that he wasn’t driven by financial reward. He was there for glory. Fiercely anti-communist, he was given his name by an East German radio station. RIP Mad Mike.
Have a safe flight?
With the latest Coronavirus news still developing, people have been scared of flying. Though there might be another reason that you may want to avoid taking a flight.
Ladies and Gentlemen, We’ve just lost a piece of our aeroplane. Nothing to worry about. It hasn’t posed a safety risk to the flight in any way. That isn’t exactly what the Captain of a Mango Airlines Boeing 737 said, but it did happen.
Reported by Scrolla Africa, a dedicated mobile phone news channel, the bright orange panel was found on the ground in the vicinity of Cape Town. Mango Airlines, the low-cost subsidiary of South African Airways, the embattled state carrier, confirmed the loss which it described as a “side wing to body fairing”. This comes not long after rumours in the industry that South African Airways technical department was not up to scratch. Mango is currently investigating the issue.
UK – Diesel, Petrol and Hybrid cars going bye bye
Back in the UK, the ban on the sale of diesel, petrol and hybrid cars has been brought forward to 2035. The change is subject to consultation, but it is widely expected that from that date, people will only be able to buy hydrogen and electric vehicles. Old conventional vehicles will continue to be allowed for possibly further 10 years.
This, of course, will bring huge challenges, such as providing electrical charging points for millions of vehicles, not to mention the extra load on the electrical grid.
This was the latest Coronavirus news, as well as other news as reported by Ivor Bundock, The Ballie Traveller. Check out more of the latest events across the world. We will be covering up the Latest Coronavirus News more in near future.
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