Today's World News covering, Africa, Europe, Middle East

Some 20 people were killed by a lightning strike on high-voltage power lines in Congo-Brazzaville, the authorities say.

Covid-19 infections are nearing the one million mark after “near exponential growth” saw global cases more than double in the past week.

African countries are experiencing a rise in the number of new coronavirus cases, and many governments there are now enforcing strict social distancing measures.

The global coronavirus is the worst crisis the world has faced since World War II, the head of the United Nations has warned.

Burundi and Sierra Leone, which were part of a handful of African countries yet to confirm cases of the coronavirus, have recorded their first positive results.

The Russian parliament has approved an “anti-virus” package of laws including up to seven years in prison for serious violations of quarantine rules.

Kenya’s police chief has ordered an investigation into the death of a 13-year-old boy said to have been shot on Monday evening as police enforced a curfew.

 

Spain’s coronavirus death toll rose by 849 cases overnight to 8,189, the highest jump in fatalities since the start of the epidemic, the health ministry said.

France is one of a number of countries, including the UK, warning of increased domestic violence as coronavirus keeps people in their homes.

The former president of the Republic of Congo, Jacques Joaquim Yhombi-Opango, has died in Paris from complications related to coronavirus.

The Prince of Wales is now out of self-isolation, following his diagnosis of coronavirus.

Sudan's presidential guards shot down a drone that turned out to be monitoring a curfew put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus , according to al-Sahya newspaper.

The price of oil has sunk to levels not seen since 2002 as demand for crude collapses amid the coronavirus pandemic.