stp-press.st (09.04.2020)

The São Tomé government through the Ministry of Labour and Solidarity, has decided to anticipate the payment of two bi-monthly payments [ 2,400 Dobras ] to mothers who are beneficiaries of the "Family Program" as a way to "alleviate" the negative impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic. The program involves 2,570 families (mainly mothers) in situations of extreme poverty.

Business Standard News (26.04.2020) The Union government is going to launch an online portal for the migrant workers in the unorganised sector impacted due to a national lockdown imposed to check the spread of Covid-19 in India. The portal, which has been tentatively named by the labour and employment ministry as the National Portal for Covid-19 Affected Unorganised Migrant Workers, will gather the details of all the unorganised sector workers who are stranded in relief camps, residential or industrial clusters.

Taiwan News (08.04.2020)Taiwan's phone-based tracking system to monitor quarantined people sought by multiple countries. 

The apparatus identifies a person’s whereabouts based on the location of his/her mobile phone relative to nearby cell towers, which reveals the distance of the phone from a specific cell reception tower and its direction in relation to the tower.

politico.eu (24.04.2020) EU national leaders directed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to draw up plans for a new long-term financial blueprint for the bloc that would also drive an economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis with a combination of loans and grants. 

businessinsider (22.04.2020)

japantimes.co.jp (21.04.2020) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said the handout is meant to be a show of solidarity as the nation hunkers down for what could be a long fight against the novel coronavirus. It replaces an earlier plan to give ¥300,000 to households that suffer a big drop in income because of the outbreak.

premiumtimesng.com (02.04.2020) The Federal Government disbursed N20,000 under its Conditional Cash Transfer scheme to 5,000 beneficiaries in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The CCT targets families registered in the National Social Register of Poor and Vulnerable Households set up by the Buhari administration in 2016 to combat poverty.

forbes.com (15.04.2020) California Governor Gavin Newsom announced today the creation of a $125 million Disaster Relief Fund to assist undocumented immigrants in the state who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will disburse a one-time payment of $500 per adult (capped at $1,000 per household) to approximately 150,000 undocumented adult Californians to help with specific needs related to the coronavirus outbreak.

almamlakatv.com (17.04.2020) The Minister of Social Development Basma Ishaqat has announced the largest social protection programme to support daily wage workers. Cash transfers will be delivered starting from next Wednesday through digital means. Applying for the programme is possible online through the pre-existing 'bread support cash assistance application website.' The programme will support 200,000 households no longer able to work due to the crisis.

The Economic Times (20.004.2020) The government has fast-tracked its plan to provide social security for gig economy workers and those in the unorganised sectors, anticipating a significant increase in their numbers as unemployment soars due to the Covid-19 crisis.