The novel coronavirus that causes the disease known as COVID-19 is sweeping across the Middle East and reigniting religious tensions, as governments tighten the reins on long-held practices in the name of fighting the pandemic. There is no doubt that the restrictions, including the closure of Shia shrines in Iraq and Iran and the cancelation…

We have gone beyond gentrification and are now talking about Pikketyfication, aristocratization and plutocratification.

There is an election coming up and the farm vote matters.

While not banning the killer pesticides altogether, the new measure will at least hopefully help the beleaguered pollinators.

"This is a tough, tough virus," said disease specialist Dr. Dale Fisher. "All it takes is one infected person and it spreads like wildfire."

As states start to rescind their coronavirus-related stay-at-home orders, some are not lifting child care restrictions just yet, leaving many parents worried about how they'll be able to return to work.

The coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East is likely to remain under control despite the easing of restrictions in recent weeks, as long as strict social distancing continues to be enforced, experts told CNBC.

Fresh coronavirus outbreaks at slaughterhouses in Germany and new cases reported Saturday in South Korea linked to a man who had visited multiple nightclubs highlighted the challenges authorities face as they seek to open up their economies.

The Australian government has arranged four additional Qantas flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in the coming fortnight. This blog has now closed

• Sign up for Guardian Australia’s daily coronavirus email
• Download the free Guardian app to get the most important news notifications
• Coronavirus Australia maps and cases: live numbers and statistics

10.10am BST

To recap, this afternoon there were 6,929 Covid-19 cases in Australia, with the death toll at 97.

There had been 16 new cases in the last 24 hours, four of which were related to the Cedar Meats cluster in Victoria.

Related: Coronavirus Australia latest: at a glance

8.21am BST

There are just two people in South Australia considered to be active cases of Covid-19.

No further cases were recorded when the state health department released updated statistics on Saturday, with South Australia’s total tally remaining at 439.

We want people to get out and explore our fabulous regions. It is safe for regional travel in South Australia.

As more than 40 states begin to reopen, President Trump is downplaying the need for mass COVID-19 testing, even as he himself is now being tested every day for the virus. We speak with emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen, who says, "Widespread testing is so critical. … Why shouldn't this testing be available to all Americans?"

Restrictions enforced in West Bengal to fight Covid-19 will continue till May 21 with curbs on normal life varying in intensity based on the extent of spread of the viral infection in a particular area, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.

"We want the restrictions to continue till May 21. We have to be careful till that time," Banerjee told media persons at the state secretariat Nabanna.

The Chief Minister, however, clarified that she was not announcing any extension on lockdown, as that decision will be taken by the central government. "I am talking of restrictions, which is different from the lockdown," she added.

Banerjee said while the restrictions would be strictly implemented in every red zone (areas with a large number of corona positive cases), the impact will be less severe in orange zones (areas with a limited number of cases in the past and with no surge in positive cases recently, where restricted activities would be allowed).

Districts with no coronavirus positive cases are included in green zones.

"If an area which is now an orange zone, shows an increase in the prevalence of the disease and enters the red zone, the restrictions will be made stiffer, and vice versa. There will be more relaxations given in the green zones, but the areas will be placed under stiffer restrictions if more positive cases are detected putting them under orange or red zone categories," she said.

The Chief Minister announced the formation of a cabinet committee on COVID management, chaired by Finance and Industries Minister Amit Mitra. Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, and Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya will be part of the committee. Mitra and Chatterjee will work from home.

The Chief Secretary, the Health Secretary, and the Home Secretary will be among the committee members. Banerjee said her government was discussing on resuming more activities in rural areas that come under the green zone.

She announced that home delivery companies, which were so long allowed to ferry only essential goods, would now be permitted to reach non-essential items also.

"We have to think of giving relaxations that won't harm the people," she said. She said though relaxations have been given on 100 days' job guarantee scheme, the problem was in getting labourers.

The Chief Minister appealed to the centre to ensure international borders were closed, and not allow domestic and international flights, and train services till the situation normalises. Inter-state bus services or travel also should not be allowed, except for emergencies.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Dengvaxia, the first vaccine for dengue was approved in 19 countries and European Union by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent dengue

A new Louisiana law was to require doctors at abortion clinics to obtain a formal affiliation with a local hospital. The Supreme Court has blocked these

Performing abortions a crime punishable by up to three years in prison, states the bill adopted in the US state of Oklahoma. The bill, which still

The US Supreme Court extended the reach of its major ruling in support of abortion rights, denying efforts by two states to reinstate restrictions on doctors providing the procedure.

Entire world is still struggling to kill the deadly coronavirus. However, the COVID-19 infection rate is slightly decreasing in many European countries right now.

The new infections marked the lowest number since early March, just before the country started reporting clusters and tolls started rising.

Lenders reluctant to count payments as affordability checks tighten

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo issued a joint call on 24 April for governments to refrain from imposing export and other trade restrictions on key medical supplies and food and to quickly lift those put in place since the start of the year.

Neighbours throughout the complex in Waterloo, in Sydney's inner city, stepped outside on their balconies after hearing a mystery man playing the keyboard and singing the song.

Cafes and restaurants will slowly reopen over the next few weeks with states like Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia moving quicker than others.

Europe took its first tentative steps towards a return to normality on Monday as some countries re-opened businesses and eased restrictions as the coronavirus pandemic shows signs of slowing.

In Berlin (pictured) it will be mandatory to wear face masks on public transport from April 27, with some states also requiring them in shops as the country begins to relax coronavirus restrictions.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 37, revealed he was forced to miss a baby scan with fiancée Nikki Bella due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Sunrise host David 'Kochie' Koch became a grandfather for the SIXTH time last week. As it could be a long time before Kochie, 64, sees the baby in person, he settled for meeting the bub virtually.

The new laws, which went into effect on Sunday, the day after at least seven people were killed in a mass shooting in West Texas, gives Texans more opportunities to have firearms in public places.

There are around 1,000 foreign qualified nurses in Australia who are unable to work in Australian hospitals because of sanctions on working holiday visas.

The Voice Australia will be making drastic changes to its format to work around COVID-19 restrictions. 

NRL stars Nathan Cleary (pictured) along with Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr have been fined by the NRL for breaching social distancing rules and warned further breaches could affect the season.

Australians are beginning to search for their next holiday destination despite the international and state borders remaining closed due to the coronavirus.

Barring an upswing of new COVID-19 cases in the new few days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will on Monday decide to lower New Zealand's lockdown from level four to level three.

Australia is edging closer to lifting coronavirus restrictions as four million people download the tracing app.

An unlicensed Queensland massage parlour has been slapped with the first fines for flouting the new coronavirus social distancing and quarantine regulations.

Queensland police attended the event in Rochedale, south of Brisbane, on Saturday night and gave out 58 $1,334 fines for failing to comply with COVID-19 sanctions.

Zachary Robba, 23, had been enjoying working at his 'dream job' on the southern Barrier Reef with a group of rangers when he was attacked by a shark on April 6.

The Business Council of Australia, which represents powerful chief executives, fears one in five Australians could be jobless unless COVID-19 restrictions are eased in coming weeks.

Viewers have slammed Dancing with the Stars after the popular Channel 10 show flouted social distancing restrictions on Sunday amid the coronavirus pandemic.

People were finally able to pay their respects at cemeteries across Birmingham after the council eased restrictions on graveyards. Mourners can now visit during a two-hour window.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 358.51 points, or 1.51%, to 24,133.78 as investors cheered news that more countries and U.S. states were looking to ease lockdowns.

New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would be in no rush to lift coronavirus restrictions, and no major changes would be made for several weeks.

Australians itching to getaway can finally start planning their dream holiday after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced interstate travel could resume as early as July.

Ministers could put individual towns and cities back on lockdown if they see coronavirus cases rise again once restrictions are relaxed.Boris Johnson will publish a 'roadmap' on Thursday for easing rules.

Neil Ferguson, who advised Boris Johnson to introduce lockdown measures to combat coronavirus, has resigned after his married lover travelled across London to meet him twice.

The Prime Minister told the cabinet he will proceed with 'maximum caution' when it comes to easing restrictions, to avoid another rise in coronavirus cases in the UK.

A study by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation also found that 83 per cent of destinations around the world have had restrictions in place for four weeks or more.

However, 25 per cent of those questioned in the UK poll said they would be more cautious when travelling in the future with 23 per cent adding they would take more domestic trips.