Google says it is pumping 6.5 million dollars into fact-checkers and nonprofits as it ramps up the battle against coronavirus misinformation.According to Alexios Mantzarlis of the Google News Lab, fact-checking organisations, which often operate on relatively small budgets, are seeing a surge in demand for their work. Mantzarlis said uncertainty and fear make us all more susceptible to inaccurate information, so people are supporting fact-checkers as they address heightened demand for their work.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

The International Air Transport Association says Nigerian airlines have airlifted 3.5 million fewer passengers resulting in a 760-million-dollar revenue loss since the onset of the disruptions caused by COVID-19. In a statement, IATA said the fallout of the setback would endanger 91,380 jobs and 650 million dollars in contribution to the Nigerian economy.IATA said African airlines lost about 4 billion dollars, while Middle East airlines lost 19 billion dollars, which translates to a drop of industry revenue by 32 per cent for Africa and 39 per cent for the Middle East for 2020 compared to 2019.IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Muhammad Al Bakri, urged governments to step up efforts to assist the industry.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

The OPEC-Plus crude oil exporter group is debating cutting global supply by 10 million barrels per day as further cuts must include producers from outside the alliance. This is according to an OPEC source that spoke to Reuters on the matter.The source adds that OPEC-Plus is watching the outcome of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and the oil companies later on Friday and a final figure on cuts depends on participation by all oil producers.U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had brokered a deal that could result in Russia and Saudi Arabia cutting output by 10 million to 15 million barrels per day, representing between 10 and 15 percent of global supply. President Trump said he made no offer to cut U.S. output.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

The United Nations food agency has negotiated a humanitarian corridor to keep food aid flowing in southern Africa after many countries shut their borders to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The World Food Programme's Director for southern Africa, Lola Castro, said South Africa had agreed to let vessels carrying food aid land on its shores and move it to countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and Namibia. Castro told reporters during a video conference that South Africa, which has declared a 21-day lockdown, had agreed to “a sort of humanitarian corridor”, a move that would help the agency continue its work.Castro said more than 400 million dollars was required to import food aid for the next three months in southern Africa, which has received patchy rains this year.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

Ethiopia has signed a power purchase agreement worth 800 million dollars with the developers of a 150 MegaWatt geothermal plant.In a tweet, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, said the deal was the first such power purchase agreement to reach such an advanced stage in the country. Ethiopia’s Tulu Moye Geothermal plant, which signed the deal with the government, expects to start generating 50 MegaWatt of power when the first phase is completed in February 2023, rising to 150 MegaWatt at full completion in 2025. The plant, located in the Arsi Zone, is being developed by the Tulu Moye Geothermal Operations.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

A business survey has shown the South African private sector activity fell to a record low in March, as the global coronavirus pandemic led to the sharpest drop in output.The IHS Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index was at 44.5 in March from 48.4 in February, remaining below the 50-point-level that separates expansion from contraction. IHS Markit said the index reading was a record low for the series and signalled worsening business conditions for the 11th straight month.The survey also showed that output sub-index fell to 37.3 in March from 46.4 in February, while the new orders one slipped to 39.6 from 47.8.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

Rwanda has secured a $109.4 million in emergency coronavirus funding from the International Monetary Fund, the first African country to do so.The East African country has registered 84 coronavirus cases, data from the World Health Organization shows, and Rwandans are grappling with high food prices as the government on Thursday extended a national lockdown by 15 days.Tao Zhang, IMF deputy managing director, said in a statement that the COVID-19 pandemic has ground Rwanda’s economy to a halt, creating an urgent balance of payments needThe loan, which comes under the Rapid Credit Facility, will help alleviate pressure on trade, tourism and foreign exchange reserves, while enabling greater health spending.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

The International Monetary Fund has warned that Zimbabwe needs urgent aid as the coronavirus exacerbates the impact a food shortage following the worst drought in nearly four decades.In a report on Friday, the IMF said the outbreak has greatly amplified uncertainty and downside risks around the outlook. The fund estimates that the economy contracted 8.3% last year. The report was largely compiled before COVID-19 virus reached Zimbabwe--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

Ten different items with a Duty Paid Value of over 200 million naira have been intercepted in Katsina state by the state Customs Area Command. The Acting Comptroller of the command, Dahiru Kirawa, said some of the items were evacuated from different stores of smugglers while others were intercepted at various locations in the state.According to Kirawa, the arrest was made through credible information and intelligence gathered from various informants. He said items seized include 123 bales of secondhand clothing, 477 bundles of textile materials, 1,844 bags of rice, 626 Jerry cans of vegetable oil and 91 Jerry cans of petroleum products.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has signed the State COVID-19 and other Dangerous Infectious Diseases and Related Matters bill into law.The governor’s signing comes 24 hours after the law was passed on Wednesday by the State House of Assembly.Governor Umahi while speaking after signing the bill into law in Abakaliki said the state government has released N200 million for palliative measures to cushion the effect of the sit-at-home order on the people.According to him, the law is to give legal effect to the regulations and precautionary measures adopted by the state government to combat the scourge of COVID-19, Lassa Fever and cholera in the state.The governor noted that the fund would be used to buy rice, tomatoes and other food items for residents of the state.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support