Image source, AFP

Malawi's President Peter Mutharika has announced an emergency cash transfer programme for people worst-affected by Covid-19.

Eligible households will receive a monthly payment of 35,000 Malawian kwacha ($47; £38) by mobile cash transfer starting in May.

The announcement came after the High Court in Malawi extended an order preventing the government from implementing a three-week lockdown.

Human rights groups had complained that there was no safety net for the poorest people.

The cash transfer programme would target just under one million people and small businesses, President Mutharika said on Tuesday.

The southern African country of 18 million has so far recorded 36 cases of coronavirus, including three deaths.

Read:

• What African countries are doing to help people to eat amid the lockdowns

Image source, Getty Images

Across the world, elderly people have been separated from their grandchildren as part of social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

The emotional impact of this has been hard on many families - it was the topic of the first question from a member of the public at the UK government briefing on Monday.

In Switzerland - which is beginning to ease its lockdown measures - authorities say they consider that it is now safe for children under the age of 10 to hug their grandparents.

The health ministry's infectious diseases chief Daniel Koch said scientists had concluded that young children did not transmit the virus.

Switzerland has recorded 1,699 deaths linked to coronavirus.

Read more here.

Back now to the news that the UK's PM - only recently recovered from a spell in intensive care with coronavirus disease - has just welcomed a new baby into his family.

Boris Johnson's father Stanley has told the BBC he is "absolutely delighted" at the news of the birth of his grandson.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also congratulated the couple adding: "Such happy news amid so much uncertainty - 2020 is certainly a year they will never forget."

And the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby wished them "every blessing and happiness".

First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe also sent their congratulations.

Jonathan Beale
BBC defence correspondent

More than 800 sailors have now been tested for Covid-19 on board the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The Royal Navy is now awaiting the results before making a decision as to when she’ll leave Portsmouth for further sea trials.

The aircraft carrier was due to depart earlier this week but that was delayed so the crew could be tested.

The decision to test the crew came after a number of outbreaks of the virus on board US and French warships.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, AFP

Some 313 coronavirus cases have been reported in Moroccan jails following mass testing for Covid-19.

The authorities say Ouarzazate prison in central Morocco recorded 303 cases, while 10 other cases were in Oudaya prison in Marrakesh and Ksar Kebir prison in the north-west.

Most of the cases involved prisoners, but a small number of prison warders were also diagnosed.

The mass testing started after one person in Ouarzazate prison tested positive last week.

The authorities say they have isolated all positive cases and all warders have been issued with protective gear.

There are nearly 80,000 inmates in Moroccan prisons. In early April, more than 5,654 inmates were pardoned by the king to reduce the risk of spreading the virus in notoriously overcrowded prisons.

Morocco has 4,252 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 165 deaths.

France's oldest doctor says he "cannot just abandon" his patients as he continues to work in a high-risk environment during the pandemic at the age of 98.

Dr Christian Chenay is still making weekly trips to a retirement home to provide support, as well as holding virtual consultations after having to temporarily close his practice in Paris.

Watch his story in the video below...

Image source, AFP

Nine inmates have been killed in a prison riot in Peru, according to authorities there.

The riot broke out at the Castro Castro prison in Lima after two prisoners died with covid-19.

Two inmates, five police officers and 60 prison guards were injured.

Jails in a number of countries in Latin America are seeing unrest over fears from prisoners that they could catch the virus due to overcrowding and poor health care.

Last month more than 23 people were killed in a prison in Colombia after a riot broke out over conditions there.

The United Nations has urged governments to do more to protect inmates and has suggested the most vulnerable be temporarily released to ease overcrowding.

It is understood the prime minister was present throughout the birth, which took place at an NHS hospital in London.

Unsurprisingly, Boris Johnson will not appear at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons on Wednesday afternoon. He had only returned to work on Monday after recovering from coronavirus.

He has previously suggested he plans to take paternity leave, but it is not known if this remains the case given the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Reuters

Politicians of all stripes have been sending their congratulations to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson following the birth of his son, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and acting Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey also tweeted their congratulations.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

We were told the baby was due in early summer, so it has come early. But we are told both Carrie Symonds and the baby boy are doing well. Not much more is known.

What a tumultuous few weeks in the Johnson household with Boris Johnson having a near-death experience and now the birth of the baby boy. And hugely worrying for Carrie Symonds, who herself had coronavirus symptoms, with the uncertainty and the fear compounded.

It has been an extraordinary emotional rollercoaster which fortunately seems to have ended well for them.

Cynical old hacks like me were assuming Boris Johnson wouldn't be taking part in Prime Minister's Questions because his health wasn't up to it. Actually there is a better and happier reason for not taking part.

I guess there will be a question as to whether he will be taking paternity leave and moving back from frontline politics... I would doubt it given the gravity of the crisis we are in. I would imagine any respite from dealing with coronavirus would be pretty limited.

Here's a quick look at what is the latest from across the region:

• China reported 22 new cases, 21 of which were imported, and no new deaths - bringing its confirmed number of cases to 82,858
• Vietnam woke up to no new cases on Wednesday - this means 13 days have passed with no signs of community transmissions, authorities said. It's been about a week since the country eased a nationwide lockdown, and life is slowly returning to normal

• The downward trend continues in South Korea where, after ballooning in February, daily infections have reduced drastically - only nine fresh cases were confirmed on Wednesday
• But in India, infections are slowly climbing. With just over 30,000 cases, the country now has the second highest number of infections in the region
• And in the Philippines, one couple have named their newborn Covid Marie. The parents told AFP that they wanted her name to be a reminder that the virus did not only bring suffering - "despite everything, a blessing came to us," her father said.

The birth of his son is another milestone in a particularly intense period for the UK prime minister as his government faces the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.

• 27 March: Tests positive for Covid-19
• 5 April: Admitted to hospital
• 7 April: Moved to intensive care
• 27 April: Returns to work
• 29 April: Baby born

A spokeswoman for the UK PM said Carrie Symonds and the newborn were "doing very well" after the birth in a London hospital on Wednesday morning.

"The PM and Ms Symonds would like to thank the fantastic NHS maternity team."

Read more here

The fiancee of Boris Johnson - the UK PM who was recently in intensive care with Covid-19 - has given birth to a baby boy.

Image source, Getty Images

The US has recorded one million cases of the virus, and Vice-President Mike Pence has toured a hospital without wearing a mask. Here's the latest from the US:

• Pence was pictured touring the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota without a face-covering despite there being a mask rule in place there. He appeared to be the only person not to wear one during the tour
• President Trump has ordered meatpacking plants to remain open to protect the country's food supply
• Almost 70 people have died with coronavirus at a home for ageing veterans in Massachusetts. Another 82 residents and 81 employees have tested positive there, according to Associated Press
• Congress has abandoned plans to return to Washington after some lawmakers complained it was too soon

The UK government is defending its decision not to recommend the wide use of face masks by the public to tackle Covid-19.

The Scottish government has endorsed face coverings but in Westminster, the current view is that they have "limited impact" in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

The Enviroment Secretary George Eustice told the BBC there's also a risk that mass use of masks could lead to shortages.

"If the value is actually very modest and very limited, to tell everybody that they should have a face mask then just means you increase demand for face masks and then potentially means that those who really need it, those working in cabin settings or in hospitals... will find it harder to get that protection that they need."

Image source, Getty Images

Germany looks set to extend its travel ban and Spain lays out its lockdown exit plan. Here’s the latest from Europe:

• According to Der Spiegel newspaper, Germany is going to extend its global travel warning until 14 June, cautioning against any trips abroad. Some German states start their summer holidays at the end of June, so there are worries that the warnings could affect people’s vacations
• Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is addressing parliament this morning about his plans to lift the lockdown, announced yesterday. There is no fixed schedule, but Mr Sanchez hopes for a return to “normality” by the end of June
• Health authorities in Switzerland say grandchildren can hug their grandparents. Daniel Koch, head of the country’s Federal Office of Public Health, told reporters: "It would be wrong to prohibit grandparents, who are already suffering from the situation, from hugging their grandchildren when they know they are not contagious"
• A ferry is docking in Italy for use as a hospital ship. Elderly coronavirus patients will be transferred away from rest homes where the illness could spread. The vessel will dock at the city of Trieste on Wednesday

Image source, Getty Images

Streamed films will be eligible to compete at next year's Oscars, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood.

The changes have been made due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Until now, only films that had been given a full cinema release and had run for at least a week in a commercial Los Angeles theatre were eligible.

With the pandemic forcing cinemas around the globe to shut, a number of films have been uploaded straight to streaming services.

President David Rubin and Chief Executive Dawn Hudson said: "The Academy firmly believes that there is no greater way to experience the magic of movies than to see them in a theatre.

"Our commitment to that is unchanged and unwavering. Nevertheless, the historically tragic Covid-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules."

The traditional rules will be reinstated once the pandemic is over.

Sue Nicholson
BBC News

Image source, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

A nurse at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings, East Sussex, who contracted coronavirus, has been clapped by colleagues as she made her way out of the hospital after 30 days of treatment.

Uma Pradhan returned home having previously spent 23 days in the critical care unit and a further week on another ward continuing her recovery.

Thanking everyone who had helped her, she said: “I am really happy and excited to see my family after a long time."

"From the bottom of my heart, I would like to give thanks to each and every person.

"This is my hospital and I am proud of this hospital and hopefully I will recover fully soon and I will come back to help Covid patients as well.”

While those employed in aviation and tourism face particularly worrying times, many would-be holidaymakers are wondering whether they will able to go on their planned trips this year. Countries reliant on sun-seeking visitors are hoping they will be able to welcome them.

Tourism ministers from across the EU are meeting today to discuss how the industry can aim to restart and recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Greek tourism minister Harry Theoharis says they will be discussing how to allow travel in a “safe and responsible way”, including the possibility of people being tested before they get on a flight.

Greece sees about 20% of its economy generated by the holiday industry.

“We want people to come to Greece this summer,” Theoharis told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“Of course we will take precautions in terms of the requirements before travelling, but also in the way people travel and the way they stay. On sunbeds, etc, social distancing rules will apply.”

Image source, Getty Images