*)More US states reopen economies

More US states are gradually easing lockdowns, despite warnings from health officials that it could cause a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

The decision comes as over 26 million people in the US seek unemployment protection across several states.

Meanwhile, New York says hospitalisations and new cases continue to decline across the state.

*)New Zealand eases restrictions

New Zealanders will be allowed to go fishing, surfing, hunting and hiking this week for the first time in more than a month as the country begins to ease restrictions.

Around 400,000 people will return to work, but shops and restaurants will remain closed as social restrictions remain in place.

The country implemented the strictest lockdown in the world which helped stop the spread.

*)Italy to ease lockdown measures on May 4

Italy will also ease its lockdown on May 4.

It comes as the country recorded its lowest daily death toll since mid-March.

Factories, building sites, parks and restaurants will reopen and limited family visits will be allowed, but schools will remain shut.

*)Israel to annex parts of occupied West Bank in coming months

Israel is confident it will get US approval to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank in the coming months.

Palestinians are expressing outrage at Israel's plans to further consolidate its control on land it has been occupying since 1967.

Israel will hold cabinet discussions on extending its sovereignty to dozens of settlements deemed illegal under the international law.

And finally…

*)Former Pakistan women's cricket captain retires

Former Pakistan women team's captain Sana Mir retired from international cricket over the weekend.

Mir’s earned numerous accolades and titles throughout her career, such as the most successful female spinner in ODI history.

The 34-year-old is one of only nine women cricketers to have taken 100 wickets and scored 1,000 runs in ODI matches.

US House passes a $484B Covid-19 stimulus bill against job losses and a bullied eight-year-old boy gets mail – from Tom Hanks

*) US House passes $484 bln stimulus as job losses soar

The US Congress unanimously passed a $484 billion stimulus for coronavirus spending.

Covid-19 has so far claimed almost 50,000 lives and one out of six jobs in the US, the world's worst-affected country.

Around 26.4 million US workers have filed for jobless claims since mid-March.

*)German court opens first Syria torture trial

A German court has opened what lawyers say is the first trial for war crimes by Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad’s agents.

Charges of torture and sexual assault were read out against two suspected members of Assad's security services.

Campaigners hailed the process as a first step towards justice for thousands of Syrians tortured in regime facilities.

*)Ramadan begins amid coronavirus lockdown

Islam's holiest month Ramadan begins today, or on Saturday in some countries, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day and then congregate for prayers and communal meals at night.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, millions of Muslims won’t be able to travel to home for Eid al Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

*)Experimental virus drug Remdesivir failed in human trial

The experimental coronavirus treatment Remdesivir has failed in its first randomised clinical trial, according to results released inadvertently.

A draft summary went online briefly on the World Health Organization website and was later deleted.

But Gilead Sciences, the company behind the medicine, disputed how the post had characterised the findings, saying the data showed a "potential benefit".

And finally…

*)Tom Hanks writes to bullied boy called ‘Corona’

A bullied Australian boy named Corona gets mail – from Tom Hanks.

Hanks and Rita Wilson, his wife, contracted Covid-19 in Australia when the eight-year-old boy, Corona De Vries, sent a letter asking after their health.

The boy wrote he was upset because kids at school called him the “coronavirus”.

Hanks responded with words of encouragement, typed out on a Corona bran typewriter which he gifted the boy.

WHO says ‘coronavirus will be with us for a long time’ and as people stay home, Earth turns wilder and cleaner

*)Coronavirus will be with us for a long time – WHO

The World Health Organization says the world has 'a long way to go' in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that most countries were still in the early stages of tackling the pandemic.

Some countries that thought they had the new coronavirus under control were witnessing a resurgence in cases, he said.

*)Trump says US will destroy Iranian gunboats if they ‘harass’ US ships

President Trump instructed the US Navy to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea".

The order came one week after small armed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps speedboats reportedly swarmed around US Navy and Coast Guard ships in the northern Gulf.

While such encounters had only occasionally occurred a few years ago and had since stopped, this incident comes at a time of increased tensions between the two countries.

*)Dismissed US vaccines agency chief questions decision

The dismissed head of the US vaccine agency has accused President Donald Trump’s administration of unfair treatment.

Doctor Rick Bright believes he was demoted on Tuesday for opposing the chloroquine treatment promoted by President Donald Trump.

In a statement, he said he was against promoting drugs by companies with political connections.

*)Russia’s Wagner used chemical weapon, Libya says

Russian private military contractor Wagner had carried out a chemical attack in Libya, Tripoli's interior minister said.

Fathi Bashagha said Wagner mercenaries used nerve agent against forces of Libya’s GNA in southern Tripoli.

Russia’s Wagner Group is one of the most controversial groups among mercenaries backing warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya..

And finally…

*)As people stay home, Earth turns wilder and cleaner

As people across the globe stay home to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, the air has cleaned up, albeit temporarily.

Coyotes, pumas and other wildlife on urban streets are becoming video social media staples.

Pollution-filled big cities around the globe are seeing a decrease in nitrogen dioxide, smog and tiny particles.

*)World is at risk of famines of 'biblical proportions'

The UN says the world is at risk of widespread famine of “biblical proportions” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 250 million are at risk of suffering from hunger, the report said.

The crisis could be the worst humanitarian catastrophe since World War II, the UN's food relief agency says, warning urgent action is needed before people starve.

*)US immigration suspension to last 60 days

President Donald Trump will stop immigration to the US for the next 60 days for those seeking permanent entry.

Trump hailed the move as putting Americans first as unemployment numbers surge.

Economists warn the unemployment rate could reach historic highs this month.

*)Lebanon to farm cannabis to export

The Lebanon Parliament has approved the farming of cannabis, but only for medicinal use.

Lawmakers say the plan is to export medicines produced from the plant in a bid to earn revenue to boost their ailing economy.

Citizens have been protesting against dire economic straits as the country sees double-digit inflation.

*)Iraq relaxes restrictions for Ramadan

With Ramadan a few days away, Iraq has relaxed some restrictions a month after a Covid-19 lockdown.

Some shops and businesses were allowed to reopen to allow people to prepare for Islam's month of fasting.

A curfew will still be in place overnight Sunday through Thursday and for 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

And finally…

*)50th anniversary of Earth Day

Today is Earth Day, designed to raise public awareness about the environment and inspire action to protect it.

The first Earth Day took place in 1970 when on April 22, millions in the US took to the streets to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward.

Activists are urging the 50th anniversary be observed through apps, webinars and digital campaigns, in line with coronavirus restrictions.

*)Trump to temporarily suspend immigration to US

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration to the US.

He says this is in effort to stop the spread of Covid-19.

His decision is despite the coronavirus disease killing more than 42,000 people in the US, more than any other country in the world.

*)US oil prices bounce back

US crude oil prices rebounded after falling below zero dollars for the first time in history.

The price of crude that would be delivered in May is now hovering at around one dollar a barrel.

The Covid-19 outbreak has caused the biggest supply and demand disparity in history, leaving the world without enough capacity to store it.

*)Brazil's president defends joining anti-lockdown protests

Brazil's president says he wants social isolation policies to end this week, a day after he defied stay-at-home orders to attend an anti-lockdown protest.

Jair Bolsonaro says he wants lockdown restrictions peeled back and supports military intervention.

His comments go directly against Brazil’s health ministry, which expects the peak of the pandemic between May and June.

*)Virgin Australia collapses

Virgin Australia has become the first commercial airliner to collapse under the coronavirus pandemic.

It entered voluntary administration and is seeking new investors or buyers after failing to secure a government bailout package.

Meanwhile, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson is hoping to secure a UK government bailout for Virgin Atlantic.

And finally…

*)No celebrations as Britain's Queen Elizabeth turns 94

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has turned 94 today.

But the coronavirus lockdown means there will be little fanfare to mark the occasion, with all events being cancelled.

Royal events are traditionally marked by ceremonial gun salutes, but the queen cancelled these and other celebrations, citing current circumstances.

*)At least 16 killed in Canada's deadliest shooting rampage

A man disguised as a police officer went on a shooting rampage at a petrol station in Canada's Nova Scotia, killing at least 16 people.

Officials say the shooter is also dead, and a police officer was among those killed.

It's the deadliest mass shooting in Canada’s history, according to authorities.

*)Protesters in several US states call for lifting lockdowns

Protesters in several US states held rallies against Covid-19 measures which have shuttered businesses and decimated the economy.

The US is the current epicentre of the pandemic, with over 763,000 infections and more than 40,000 deaths.

The protesters are demanding restrictions be lifted and governors reopen economies that have been shut down.

*)HRW accuses Burkina Faso of killing of 31 unarmed civilians

Human Rights Watch says Burkina Faso's security forces allegedly executed 31 unarmed detainees in the northern town of Djibo.

Calling for an official inquiry, the rights group said the executions took place under the pretense of a counterterrorism operation.

Human Rights Watch says the actions of the Burkina Faso security forces may amount to war crimes and could fuel further atrocities.

*)Planet Earth gets some much-needed rest during lockdown

As the coronavirus pandemic proves deadly for humans, an unexpected outcome is playing out for planet Earth.

Environmental conditions have improved since Covid-19 shut down factories, cancelled flights and closed borders as countries attempt to contain the virus.

Smog that covered cities like New Delhi, Milan, Beijing and Madrid has also cleared.

And finally…

*)‘The times they are a-changin’ handwritten lyrics on sale

Bob Dylan's handwritten lyrics for 'The times they are a-changin' are up for sale for $2.2 million.

Auctioneers say the private sale is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The track is considered as one of the most iconic protest songs of the 1960s.

*)China’s Wuhan revises coronavirus death toll and case numbers

China's Wuhan, where the virus causing Covid-19 is believed to have emerged, has revised its death toll from 1,290 to 3,860.

The number of infections has also been increased to just over 50,000.

China’s state media explained the revision was due to medical facilities being overwhelmed at the peak of the outbreak.

*)Global economies take a hammering

Covid-19 continues to devastate global trade as major economies remain shut.

A record 22 million people applied for unemployment aid in the US, the world's largest economy, since the start of the outbreak.

China, the world’s second-largest economy, is seeing its first economic contraction since the 1990s.

*)Fire kills 14 people at refugee camp in northeast Nigeria

In Nigeria, at least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in a fire at a camp for internally displaced persons.

The camp hosts more than 30,000 civilians who fled Boko Haram attacks.

President Muhammadu Buhari described the fire at the camp as "extremely horrifying".

*)Facebook to warn users who ‘like’ coronavirus hoaxes

Facebook will soon let you know if you’ve shared or interacted with coronavirus misinformation on its platform.

The move is the latest in a string of aggressive efforts by the social media giant to stop an outbreak of viral falsehoods.

Other measures taken by Facebook, Google and Twitter include stricter rules, altered algorithms and thousands of fact checks.

And finally…

*)ISS crew returns from space after more than 200 days

Three astronauts have returned after 205 days to an Earth very different from the one they left last year.

The International Space Station crew lifted off long before the coronavirus pandemic changed life on Earth as they knew it.

The Soyuz capsule landed in Kazakhstan after a three-hour-long journey.

*) Nearly 400 Rohingya rescued, dozens die after two months at sea

Almost 400 Rohingya Muslims have been rescued after being adrift on a boat for two months.

The boat, which had failed to reach Malaysia, was rescued by the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

More than two dozen refugees on board had died of starvation.

*) Libya announces 10-day curfew starting Friday

Libya's internationally-recognised government has announced a 10-day curfew to contain the spread of Covid-19 amid civil war.

Only people wearing masks will be allowed out to buy essentials in a limited number of hours every day starting this Friday.

Prime Minister Fayez al Sarraj has also accused warlord Khalifa Haftar and his illegal militia of using the pandemic to launch a new armed offensive.

*) Costa Rican farmers donate crops to struggling families

Farmers in Costa Rica have been hit by a halt in exports due to flight and trade restrictions.

But instead of destroying their crops due to the drop in demand, the farmers are donating them to families in need.

Volunteers help distribute the produce to people left unemployed or whose working hours have been reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions.

*)Ecuador launches door-to-door health and food programme

Ecuador has launched a door-to-door health and food delivery programme as part of its efforts to give aid to those affected by shutdowns.

Government workers have delivered food to residents in the port city of Guayaquil.

The city is the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in South America.

And finally…

*) Taiwan social distancing app gives proximity alerts to users

Social distancing in Taiwan could get a bit easier thanks to a new app.

Government has developed an app that uses Bluetooth to alert people if they are too close to someone else.

It is currently being tested and will be available next month.

*)Global Covid-19 infections beyond 2 million

Two million people around the world are now infected with Covid-19.

Separately, around half a million have fully recovered.

Over 126,000 people have died from the disease, which first broke out in Wuhan, China.

*)South Korea heads to the polls

Polls have opened in South Korea for the parliamentary elections.

Authorities are taking measures for a safe voting process amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Temperatures of voters will be checked and they are required to wear masks and gloves while maintaining a metre distance between each other.

*)IMF warns of global financial crisis

The UN said last month that workers around the world could lose as much as $3.4 trillion in wages by the end of 2020.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts the global economy will experience its steepest downturn since the Great Depression.

Its calculations show a three percent contraction in global growth this year, with a five percent growth rate in 2021.

*)Saudis get closer to buying Newcastle United

Saudi Arabia, fronted by British financier Amanda Staveley, has moved closer to buying English football club Newcastle United.

Media reports state the Saudi group will take an 80 percent shareholding stake should the deal go through.

Media also reported that the asking price of $428.6 million has now dropped to $378.33 million.

And finally…

*)Global event to celebrate coronavirus workers

Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez and Oprah Winfrey will join a global telecast on April 18 that will recognise efforts of frontline workers.

The "One World Together At Home" event will also include appearances by major sports stars, dozens of singers, actors and social media influencers.

The event will be broadcast on multiple international television networks.

*)Trump and governors face-off over reopening of economy

A row has broken out between US President Donald Trump and state governors over when to end lockdowns and re-open the economy.

Trump says he will make the decision, not the governors.

Meanwhile, Trump also went on an offensive over his health adviser’s assessment that the US could have done more to contain the virus outbreak.

*)IMF to provide debt relief to 25 countries

The International Monetary Fund has announced immediate debt relief for 25 low-income countries so they can fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti and many African countries are among the first to benefit from the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust.

The IMF is also pushing to raise the amount available for relief to $1.4 billion to help poor countries divert funds to the health emergency.

*)Benny Gantz fails to form new Israeli government

The deadline has passed for Benny Gantz to form Israel’s next government.

It is believed the next likely step is for President Reuven Rivlin to ask the Knesset to nominate a candidate to become prime minister.

After being appointed as the speaker of the parliament last month, Gantz said he would seek an emergency unity alliance with Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party, but there’s no news of any agreement.

*)Wildfires burn in Chernobyl exclusion zone

Emergency services in Ukraine are still battling wildfires that have been burning in the Chernobyl exclusion zone for more than a week.

More than 300 firefighters have been deployed, aided by water-bombing aircraft.

There are fears the fires could send toxic clouds across Europe.

And finally…

*)Panthers make McCaffrey highest-paid running back in NFL history

Carolina Panthers have made Christian McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

The $16-million-a-year deal eclipses Ezekiel Elliott's contract with the Dallas Cowboys that is worth $15 million per season.

The extension keeps 23-year-old McCaffrey tied to the Panthers through the 2025 season.