Spain, one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, is to extend its nationwide lockdown until May 9, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Saturday.
Restrictions on movements would be loosened slightly however to allow children time outside, from April 27, he added.
Spain, which has been under lockdown since March 14, has recorded 20,043 deaths from the virus, according to the latest official figures released earlier Saturday.

Spain to extend coronavirus lockdown through May 9: PM

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About 20 workers in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's palace have tested positive for the coronavirus, two officials told AFP on Saturday, but so far, there is no indication the president himself has been infected.
"Twenty-odd people are infected with COVID-19 in the presidential palace. However, it is (being) kept under wraps to ensure no panic is caused," one government official said.
A second official confirmed the number, and said an additional 12 people from the president's administrative office had also contracted the virus.
Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi declined to comment and referred questions to the health ministry, which also would not comment, saying it did not disclose the identity of its patients.
Ghani, 70, recently began his second term as president and faces multiple crises, including a floundering peace process and an attack on his authority by his bitter rival Abdullah Abdullah, who also has claimed the presidency.
Kabul is currently on a coronavirus lockdown, which 

20 of Afghan president's palace staff have virus: officials

The coronavirus has killed more than 100,000 people in Europe, nearly two thirds of the overall global death toll, according to an AFP tally Saturday at 1800 GMT.
With a total 100,501 deaths out of 1,136,672 infections, Europe is the hardest-hit continent by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed 157,163 worldwide.
The tallies are collated using date collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Europe coronavirus death toll tops 100,000: AFP tally

France on Saturday reported 642 more deaths from COVID-19 in hospitals and nursing homes over the last 24 hours but registered new falls in the total numbers of coronavirus patients in hospitals and intensive care.
The new deaths -- 364 in hospitals and 278 in nursing homes -- brought the total toll in the country from the epidemic to 19,323, the French health ministry said in a statement.

France reports 642 more coronavirus deaths, total toll 19,323: official

Dubai opened a 3,000-bed capacity field hospital on Saturday in its World Trade Centre to prepare for a potential surge in novel coronavirus cases.
The towering event and exhibition centre is located in the heart of the city, one of the seven members of the United Arab Emirates.
The hospital will reinforce Dubai's healthcare system and "take advantage of all resources and infrastructure to fight the COVID-19 pandemic", said a statement from the emirate's media office said.  The hospital has a capacity that can be expanded quickly to over 3,000 beds, the statement added.
The UAE has imposed strict social distancing measures and a night-time curfew to combat the spread of the virus.
More than 6,000 COVID-19 infections have been recorded in the UAE, including 37 patients who have died.

Dubai opens 3,000-bed field hospital for virus response

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont believes the "spirit of collaboration" the sport has witnessed in response to the coronavirus pandemic will lead to a new international calendar.
Former England captain Beaumont was behind plans for a new two-tier Nations Championship -- encompassing Europe's Six Nations and the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship -- that collapsed last year amid reports the likes of Scotland were concerned by the risk of relegation from what is currently a 'closed' event.
But Beaumont, who must see off a challenge from vice-chairman Agustin Pichot if he is to be re-elected, believes the ongoing global shutdown of the sport caused by the virus has caused many within the game to rethink their views.
This week saw World Rugby launch a $100 million dollar virus relief package and Beaumont, 68, has been heartened by the co-operation shown by countries as they plan for a time when rugby can resume.
"I'm pretty confident that there will be a variation of the Nations ...

Beaumont says virus could spark rugby calendar reform

The number of people in Britain who have died in hospital from coronavirus has risen by 888 to 15,464, according to daily health ministry figures on Saturday.
"As of 5pm on 17 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 15,464 have sadly died," the ministry said on its website, up from 14,576 on Friday.

UK virus death toll rises by 888 to 15,464: health ministry

Police in Hong Kong carried out a sweeping operation against high-profile democracy campaigners on Saturday, arresting 15 activists on charges related to massive protests that rocked the Asian financial hub last year.
Among those targeted was media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 72, founder of anti-establishment newspaper Apple Daily, who was arrested at his home.
The group also included former lawmakers Martin Lee, Margaret Ng, Albert Ho, Leung Kwok-hung, Au Nok-hin and current lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung.
They are accused of organising and taking part in unlawful assemblies in August and October, according to the police.
Five were arrested on suspicion of publicising unauthorised public meetings in September and October.
"The arrestees were charged or will be charged with related crimes," superintendent Lam Wing-ho said.
All 15 are due to appear in court mid-May.
Media boss Lai was previously detained in February over his participation in another August rally that was banned by police for security .

Hong Kong activists arrested over last year's democracy rallies

At least five women and children died on Saturday in a stampede when cash and clothes were handed out to thousands of displaced people in northeastern Nigeria, militia and local people said.
A large crowd surged forward for the government aid distribution and people were trampled under foot in the town of Gamboru, near the Cameroon border, a region hit by jihadist violence.
"Five dead bodies, four women and a little girl, were brought to the hospital along with seven injured," a medical source said at the hospital.
"We learned that (other) bodies were identified and claimed by relations from the scene," the source added without specifying how many.
However Umar Kachalla, who heads a local anti-jihadist militia force, said: "There was a crush which led to the death of 12 women and children and left seven with severe injuries." Some of the dead were taken to hospital and others claimed at the site of the stampede, he added.
Thousands of women had gathered at a primary school for ...

Women and children die in Nigeria aid stampede

Former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas has raised ?300,000 ($375,299, 345,288 euros) for Britain's National Health Service after a 36-hour indoor cycling stint.
The Welshman rode a trio of 12-hour rides over three days on a turbo bike in the garage of his home in Cardiff in a bid to raise funds to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.  The 12-hour rides were to emulate a typical shift of an NHS worker.
"No exaggeration, the last two hours were the hardest I have ever had on the bike," Thomas told the BBC on Saturday.
"I could barely sit down," the 2018 Tour de France champion added.
Professional cycling, in common with all major sport worldwide, has been suspended following the spread of the virus, with this year's Tour de France delayed from June and July until August and September.
The suspension of the road race calendar prompted Thomas to set himself a challenge which he likened to completing eight or nine stages of the Tour itself.
"It has been solid," said Thomas, winner of ...

Thomas raises ?300,000 with turbo bike challenge

The worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 154,188 on Saturday, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
More than 2,251,690 declared cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December.  Of these cases, at least 497,600 are now considered recovered.
The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.
Many countries are testing only the most serious cases.
In the United States, now the epicentre of the pandemic, the death toll stood at 37,079 with 706,779 infections. At least 59,672 patients have recovered.  Italy is the next most-affected country with 22,745 deaths and 172,434 confirmed infections.
It is followed by Spain with 20,043 fatalities and 191,726 confirmed infections, France with 18,681 deaths and 147,969 infections and Britain ..

Worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rises to 154,188

Zimbabwe on Saturday celebrated the 40th anniversary of its independence, but without the traditional pomp and nationwide rallies because of a coronavirus lockdown.
In an address on national television, President Emmerson Mnangagwa voiced optimism about containing the spread of the virus in a country that has officially reported only 24 cases.
"We celebrate our milestone 40th anniversary in the context of unprecedented times, that of the pandemic," Mnangagwa said, noting that the virus had scuttled plans to host celebrations for the first time in the second city of Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe usually commemorates its independence from British colonial rule with rallies across the country's 10 provinces with the main event held in a 60,000-seater stadium in the capital Harare.
Celebrations include martial displays, acrobatics and live music performances.  "However, the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic is seeing us endure a necessary lockdown in our homes," Mnangagwa said, imploring Zimbabweans .

Virus takes cheer out of Zimbabwe independence celebration

More than 2.25 million coronavirus cases have been recorded worldwide, about half of them in Europe, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official sources.
A total of 154,188 deaths have been reported among the 2,251,695 cases.  In Europe, the hardest-hit continent, there are 1,115,555 declared infections and 97,985 deaths. In the United States, the country where the virus is progressing most rapidly, there are 706,779 cases including 37,079 fatalities.
The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.
Many countries are testing only the most serious cases.

Over 2.25 million coronavirus cases registered worldwide

Iran on Saturday announced 73 new deaths from the coronavirus, raising the official toll to 5,031 as the government allowed small businesses to reopen in Tehran as they already have in the provinces.
It was the seventh day that the number of deaths in the previous 24 hours had fallen.
It was also the fifth straight day that the number of new deaths had stayed in double figures, ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a news conference.  "This (73) is a very low number compared to recent days," he said, hoping the downward trend would continue.
Jahanpour said the "small victory" against the coronavirus had been won despite "enmities" towards Iran.
He claimed that US sanctions had prevented Iran from buying virus testing kits from South Korea, but gve no further details.
"This is despite all their false claims that trade in medicines is not covered by the sanctions," he said.
"The world will judge such actions."
Jahanpour added that 1,374 new infections had been confirmed in the ...

Iran virus deaths top 5,000: ministry

The death toll from the coronavirus in Spain, one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, moved past 20,000 on Saturday, the health ministry said.
A total of 20,043 people have now succumbed to the disease, which killed 565 people in Spain in the past 24 hours, slightly down on the 585 reported on Friday.

Spain reports more than 20,000 coronavirus deaths

The number of coronavirus victims in Britain's care homes could be as high as 7,500, five times more than the official estimate, the sector's main charity warned on Saturday.
Care England, Britain's largest representative body for care homes, told the Daily Telegraph that estimates based on "some of the death rates since April 1" suggested up to 7,500 may have died of the virus.
"Without testing, it is very difficult to give an absolute figure," Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, told The Daily Telegraph.
"However, if we look at some of the death rates since April 1 and compare them with previous years' rates, we estimate a figure of about 7,500 people may have died as a result of COVID-19." The figure is more than five times higher than the estimate of 1,400 suggested by the government earlier this week.
It is also far in excess of the 217 care home deaths recorded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) up to April 3, the most recent date for which official data is ..

Care home charity warns UK deaths could be over 7,000

Lesotho's embattled prime minister on Saturday announced he had deployed the military onto the streets to "restore order" saying some law enforcement institutions, which he did not name, were undermining democracy.
Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is under pressure to step down after police said they suspect him of having a hand in the murder of his estranged wife in 2017.
In an address on public television the 80-year-old Thabane said he had "deployed the army to take control of this situation and take necessary measures against these elements in alignment with the security orders and restore peace and order".
"This is to avoid putting the nation in danger," he said.
A highly placed government source said police commissioner Holomo Molibeli, his deputy Paseka Mokete and another senior police officer, have been arrested by the army.
"The general informed the prime minister that he has arrested Holomo, Mokete... They are temporarily detained at Makoanyane Barracks," the source told AFP in 

Lesotho's under-fire PM deploys army to 'restore order'

West Ham chief executive Karren Brady claims the Premier League's return date is still unclear despite hopes the top-flight season can restart in June.
The Premier League said on Friday that wrapping up the remaining 92 fixtures remains their goal, but the on-going coronavirus crisis means no fixed schedule can be drawn up yet.
Brady's West Ham were perilously placed in the English top flight when football was suspended, sitting above the relegation zone on only goal difference with nine games remaining.
"Players will have been able to retain some physical fitness at home," Brady wrote in her column in The Sun on Saturday.
"But if social-distancing rules are still in place, physical match-play training will not be allowed -- you can't tackle from two metres away.
"So, how match-fit will players be if the season commences, as we all hope it will, by mid-June?"
With most clubs having nine games left, it was reported that Friday's meeting of the 20 clubs discussed finishing the season in 

Premier League return date still not clear, says Brady

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday he was concerned by 'malicious' cyber attacks that have  targeted Czech hospitals battling the novel coronavirus.
"As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, malicious cyber activity that impairs the ability of hospitals and healthcare systems to deliver critical services could have deadly results," Pompeo said.
"Anyone that engages in such an action should expect consequences," he added in a statement obtained by AFP.
Several Czech hospitals have recently reported cyber attack attempts which they have withstood.
"The situation is quiet now, we have seen individual incidents which have been prevented," Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Friday.
"However, we still have to be very cautious," he added.
The Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency NUKIB on Thursday warned against attacks which it expected "in the next few days".
Hospitals in the eastern Czech cities of Olomouc and Ostrava as well as several others then ..

Pompeo concerned by cyber attacks on Czech hospitals

Coronavirus deaths have surged past 150,000 worldwide with nearly a quarter of them in the United States, where President Donald Trump lent his support to protestors rallying against lockdown orders.
Evidence is mounting that social distancing successfully slowed the pandemic after more than half of humanity -- 4.5 billion people -- were confined to their homes.
Governments around the world are now grappling with when and how to ease lockdowns that have crippled the global economy, even as the COVID-19 death toll climbs further in hard-hit countries.
Demonstrators in three US states assembled in public this week to call for an end to the restrictions, with the largest protest in Michigan attracting 3,000 people -- some of whom were armed.
Trump has largely left decisions on easing lockdowns to state officials even as he outlined guidelines for a staged reopening of the national economy.
The US accounts for nearly a third of the 2.2 million coronavirus infections reported globally.
It .

Global virus deaths pass 150,000 as Trump endorses lockdown protests

An operation by France's Chinese community to help the diaspora during the coronavirus outbreak by distributing masks, disinfectant and gloves has prompted questions and legal problems for some of its backers.
Sceptical of the French government's response to the epidemic, the Chinese embassy, business leaders and ex-pat associations have handed out so-called "COVID kits", masks and other protective equipment to their compatriots.
But this landed some in trouble with the law.
Among the masks given out were the highly sought-after FFP2 type, which in times of critical supply shortages have been reserved for medical personnel on the frontlines of France's coronavirus battle.
Early in the outbreak, France had requisitioned all face mask stocks and production for distribution to doctors, nurses and caregivers.
Yet on April 5, police in Paris detained two representatives of Chinese associations for possession of some 15,000 masks.
Two days later, three students were arrested while handing ..

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