Author: News Desk

The Premier League season is set to restart on 17 June with Aston Villa v Sheffield United and Manchester City v Arsenal, the BBC has learned.  These matches are the two games in hand that were unable to go ahead because of the Lockdown imposed in March 2020. A full fixture list would then be played on the weekend of 19-21 June.  Clubs are still discussing the idea at a meeting on Thursday, but it is understood all have agreed in principle at this stage.  Football behind closed doors No fans will be allowed to travel to the games and…

Many in Lebanon have suddenly been plunged into poverty in a country that has hit its breaking point due to Coronavirus. Almost half the country’s six million people are now living below the poverty line.  Lebanon’s catastrophe, economy crisis Some are warning that the scale of the catastrophe may be more devastating than the 15-year civil war, which raged from 1975 to 1990. Even before coronavirus hit, Lebanon was experiencing the worst economic crisis in the country’s history. This triggered large anti-government protests late last year. Lebanon’s currency has lost nearly 60% of its value against the dollar. In a…

At least three jailed senior members of the toppled regime of former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir have the Coronavirus. The Arab African country has reported 4,146 coronavirus cases and 184 deaths. It released more than 4,000 prisoners in March as a precaution against the spread of the disease in jails. Bashir regime senior members, Wanted infected criminals But political sensitivities mean all those jailed for an offence committed as part of the administration run by the veteran Islamist, who was ousted in an uprising a year ago, remain in custody. They include Ahmed Haroun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein. They…

The US has passed 100,000 deaths in the Coronavirus outbreak in less than four months. The 1.69 million confirmed infections in the US account for about 30% of the worldwide total. The first US infection was reported in Washington state on 21 January. Globally there have been 5.6 million people recorded as infected and 354,983 deaths since the virus emerged. The US death toll stands at 100,276, according to Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, which has been tracking the pandemic. It is almost the same as the number of American servicemen and women killed in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan…

Thursday 28 May coronavirus updates BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING Thursday 28 May 2020 News Briefing – Today’s headlines are dominated by the global Coronavirus Pandemic. As of 6:30 am (GMT), these are the global active numbers. Global COVID-19 UPDATE Coronavirus Cases: 5,792,253 Deaths: 357,467 Recovered: 2,498,730 US death toll has passed 100,000 Jimmy Fallon apologies for ‘blackface’ skit Tory MPs ignore PMs call for people to move on from Dominic Cummings crisis Test and Trace system starts Thursday Previous Next Headlines: What the papers say? Disney CEO says it’s safe to return to Disney World.…

Egypt’s top medical union on Monday warned of a “complete collapse” of the country’s health system. it accused the health ministry of negligence in failing to protect healthcare workers from Coronavirus. COVID-19 has killed 19 doctors and infected more than 350, according to the EMS, a body representing thousands of Egyptian doctors. “The EMS holds the health ministry entirely responsible for the mounting deaths and infections among doctors due to its negligence… that is tantamount to death through dereliction of duty,” it added. Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world, has so far reported 17,967 confirmed cases of…

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was unable to visit his dying mother in her final weeks because he obeyed Coronavirus restrictions against visiting care homes, his office said on Monday. They added:  “The prime minister has complied with all directives.” PM Mark Rutte mother’s death Mark Rutte’s mother Mieke Rutte-Dilling died aged 96 at her care home in The Hague on 13 May, the PM said in a statement. Mrs Rutte-Dilling did not die of coronavirus, despite an outbreak of the disease at her residential home, Dutch media reported. Paying tribute to her, Mr Rutte said: “In addition to the…

Wednesday 27 May coronavirus updates BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING Wednesday 27 May 2020 News Briefing – Today’s headlines are dominated by the global Coronavirus Pandemic. As of 6:30 am (GMT), these are the global active numbers. Global COVID-19 UPDATE Coronavirus Cases: 5,687,877 Deaths: 352,265 Recovered: 2,431,754 Four US policemen fired for death of unarmed black man 900 Taliban prisoners to be freed by Afghan govt under Eid truce in biggest ever single-step release What to expect when non-essential shops reopen next month Previous Next Headlines: What the papers say? Covid-19 cases rise in 17 states, Americans…

Ireland has recorded no COVID-19 deaths for the first time since March. The country’s leader, Leo Varadkar, said it was a “day of hope” as only 59 new Coronavirus cases were detected. He hailed it as a “significant milestone.” “First day with no reported COVID 19 deaths since March 21st. This is a day of hope. We will prevail.” The Republic has had 1,606 COVID-19 linked deaths and 24,698 confirmed cases. Dr Tony Holohan, Ireland’s chief medical officer, said figures over the past week indicated “we have suppressed COVID-19 as a country”. He added: “It has taken strict measures to…

Spain is opening its borders to tourists without the need to quarantine. A major boost for the economy. Tourists and people wishing to travel to Spain will be able to visit Spain from 1 July without having to quarantine for two weeks. “The worst is behind us,” Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya tweeted with emojis of a bikini, sunglasses and a suitcase. “In July we will gradually open Spain to international tourists, lift the quarantine, [and] ensure the highest standards of health safety. We look forward to welcoming you!” The government said cabinet ministers made the decision to lift the mandatory…