You are watching Africa 54, your daily news and feature magazine-style program, from the Voice of America. Host Esther Githui-Ewart and a team of correspondents zero in on the big stories making news on the continent and around the world with context and analysis.

Top Stories:  

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken with the leaders of The United States, Germany, France as he tries to build support for an international probe into the origins and spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic including the response of the World Health Organization. But Australia’s push for the independent inquiry is garnering sharp criticism from China.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa unveils a new $26 billion-dollar, 500 billion Rand, rescue package to help the country recover from the ongoing economic impact of COVID-19. Ramaphosa says the coronavirus outbreak is causing the nation’s poorest citizens immense hunger and social distress – and that 250,000 food parcels will be distributed across the country in the coming days.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari asks the country’s Chief Judge Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to free prison inmates who have been awaiting trial for six years or more to ease overcrowding as the corona-virus spreads, according to a spokesman.

Burkina Faso and Ghana set to ease some coronavirus lockdown restrictions this week to test the possibility of a return to a semblance of normality after weeks of shutdowns that have hobbled both economies. In Burkina’s capital, Ouagadougou, markets had been closed since March 25th.

Leading U.S. doctors' organizations are urging the white house to collect data to show exactly who is dying from COVID-19. Data collected so far, shows the coronavirus is killing African Americans at an alarmingly higher rate than it's killing white people.  

A54 Technology: Nigeria-based E-commerce technology company Jumia is adapting its digital retail network to help curb the spread of COVID-19. Jumia has donated certified face masks to health ministries in Kenya, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, and Uganda. Africa 54 technology reporter, Paul Ndiho, speaks to Juliet Anammah, chairwoman, of Jumia Nigeria and group head of institutional affairs.

#Coronavirus #SouthAfrica #Nigeria #BurkinaFaso #Ghana #UnitedStates #Jumia #Austrailia #Germany #France #China #CyrilRamaphosa #MuhammaduBuhari

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