North Korea’s Kim ‘alive and well’: South Korea security adviser

SEOUL, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is “alive and well”, said a top security adviser to the South’s President Moon Jae-in, downplaying rumours over Kim’s health following his absence from a key anniversary. “Our government position is firm,” said Moon’s special adviser on national security…

Covid-19: New Zealand has won battle against virus transmission, says PM

WELLINGTON, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday claimed New Zealand had scored a significant victory against the spread of the coronavirus, as the country began a phased exit from lockdown. “There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand,” Ardern declared. “We have won that…

Update: Covid-19 cases top 2.9 million with 204,696 deaths

PARIS, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The new coronavirus has claimed at least 204,696 lives since its outbreak in China in December, according to a tally from official sources as at 1900 GMT on Sunday. More than 2,929,630 cases were registered in 193 countries and territories. Of these cases, at least…

Covid-19: PM Johnson back to work as UK virus problems mount

LONDON, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to work on Monday more than three weeks after being hospitalised for the coronavirus and spending three days in intensive care. Johnson, one of the highest-profile people to have contracted the virus, returned to 10 Downing Street on Sunday…

Covid-19: Pres Trump backs US health secretary, lashes media

WASHINGTON, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump dismissed reports he was considering sacking health secretary Alex Azar as criticism mounts over the US response to the coronavirus pandemic. Trump, who risks losing public support ahead of the November election due to the climbing death toll, lashed out over stories…

Saudi Arabia eliminates death penalty for minors

RIYADH, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi Arabia ended the death penalty for crimes committed by minors after effectively abolishing floggings as the kingdom seeks to blunt criticism over its human rights record. The reforms underscore a push by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to modernise the kingdom long associated with…

Covid-19 in the US: Latest case counts

WASHINGTON, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The U.S. has now confirmed 939,249 cases of COVID-19 and at least 53,934 related deaths. At least 22,009 of those COVID-19 deaths occurred in New York, 5,938 in New Jersey, 3,274 in Michigan, 2,730 in Massachusetts, 1,875 in Illinois and 1,698 related deaths reported in California. The United States…

Covid-19: Chile to introduce controversial “immunity”certificate

SANTIAGO, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile’s government has said it will go ahead with a controversial plan to issue certificates to people who have recovered from Covid-19.The documents would be given to people to allow them to return to work, Deputy Health Minister Paula Daza said.The World Health Organization (WHO)…

Yemen war: Separatists declare autonomous rule in south

Separatists took control of the government’s temporary capital Aden ADEN, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Separatists in southern Yemen have declared self-rule, breaking a peace deal signed in November with the internationally recognised government. The Aden-based Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared a state of emergency, saying it would govern the port…

Covid-19 came to New York from Europe, not China – Governor

New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo NEW YORK, April 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo pointed to research showing that strains of the novel coronavirus entered his state from Europe, not China, and said that travel bans enacted by US President Donald Trump were too late to halt its…