Covid-19: South Africa deploys 70,000 troops to enforce lockdown

This is the biggest army deployment since the end of apartheid in 1994  PRETORIA, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —More than 70,000 extra troops will be deployed in South Africa to help enforce a lockdown intended to stop the spread of coronavirus, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced. South Africa has had 3,465 confirmed coronavirus…

Covid-19: Huge economic rescue plan agreed by EU leaders

 BRUSSELS, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A plan for injecting billions of euros of emergency aid into Europe’s battered economies has been agreed by EU heads. Meeting via video, they agreed to set up a massive recovery fund, closely tied to the bloc’s seven-year budget. They also confirmed that €540bn of financial…

Covid-19: Israel halts police phone tracking over privacy concerns

Security forces detain Palestinian workers allegedly breaking the lockdown rules  JERUSALEM, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The use by Israel’s police of mobile-phone location data to enforce quarantine has been halted because of privacy concerns. The government had approved the use of such data for a limited time, to make sure those ordered…

Covid-19: ‘Unimaginable human tragedy’ in Europe’s care homes – WHO

COPENHAGEN, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization said Europe was seeing an “unimaginable human tragedy” at its care homes, where deaths from the new coronavirus accounted for up to 50 percent in some countries. The WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, called the situation “deeply concerning.” Speaking…

Covid-19: Muslims around Asia mark Ramadan with unprecedented virus lockdowns

JAKARTA, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan under coronavirus lockdown on Friday with unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers, while a pushback in some countries has sparked fears of a surge in infections. This year, the holy daytime fasting month will be a…

Covid-19: Global cases near 2.7 million with 186,462 deaths

PARIS, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 186,462 on Thursday, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1900 GMT. The global death toll rose by 4,576 over the past 24 hours and a total number of cases…

Covid-19: Peru to release 3,000 prisoners under virus amnesty after seven died

LIMA, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru will release under amnesty about 3,000 prisoners including those who are particularly at risk from the coronavirus pandemic, the justice minister has said. The disease has killed at least seven inmates, and infected more than 40 in Peru’s overcrowded prisons along with 26 wardens.…

Bangladesh not to accept new Rohingya refugee boats, earlier denied entry by Malaysia – Minister

DHAKA, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bangladesh will not accept two boats carrying hundreds of reportedly starving Rohingya refugees, the country’s foreign minister said as calls grew to rescue the Muslim outcasts.The new controversy over stranded Rohingya blew up just a week after dozens starved to death on a boat that…

Covid-19: Children to be allowed to play outside in Spain

MADRID, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — By the time children under 14 are allowed out of their homes again on Sunday, Spain’s lockdown will have been in place for six weeks.The government has now given details of how it’ll work under a so-called 1-1-1 rule. Up to three children will be…

Covid-19: US House passes $500 billion coronavirus bill in latest relief package

The U.S. House of Representatives pass an additional economic stimulus package WASHINGTON, April 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill on Thursday, funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to an unprecedented near $3…