A Taliban spokesman announces the release of 20 government prisoners in response to the latter's release of 300 Taliban prisoners since Wednesday. (Reuters)
Today Pope Francis livestreames the Urbi et Orbi blessing for the second time in just a month. Usually given on Christmas and Easter, this year the pope also gave the blessing on March 27, during a special prayer service for the end of the coronavirus. (CRUX)
The Philippines reports 220 new confirmed cases and 50 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the country's death toll to 297 with 4,648 total cases. (Reuters)
The death toll from coronavirus in Italy has reached 19,889 people. Italy has the second highest number of deaths in the world, after the United States. (Corriere della Sera)
Justice Minister of Hirshabelle State, Khalif Mumin Tohow, becomes the second person to die from COVID-19 in Somalia. The state minister recently travelled back from the United Kingdom. (Middle East Monitor)