Portugal to reopen beaches next month as part of gradual unlocking
Portugal will reopen its beaches on June 6, prime minister Antonio Costa said on Friday, and he encouraged the public to download an app that will tell them if their beach of choice is full or still has space.
Namibian president cuts ministers’ perks in coronavirus fight
Namibian president Hage Geingob announced cost-cutting measures on Friday to save up to 200 million Namibian dollars ($10.80 million) as the country battles with the impact of the novel coronavirus.
Drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan continuing: Pentagon
The United States is continuing its drawdown of troops from Afghanistan and is expected to meet a timeline that had been agreed upon with the Taliban earlier this year, the Pentagon said on Friday.
Georgian president pardons two opposition politicians
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on Friday pardoned two opposition politicians, a former mayor of the capital and an ex-defence minister, in a move to reduce political tension ahead of a parliamentary election this autumn.
Uruguay extradites accused Mexican cocaine smuggler to United States: officials
Uruguay extradited a Mexican citizen to the United States where he is charged with international conspiracy to distribute cocaine and amphetamines, U.S. officials said on Friday.
Lovers kept apart by coronavirus reunited as border fence comes down
He happens to live in Switzerland. She happens to live in Germany. Before the coronavirus, that didn’t mean much for Lukas and Leonie, a cross-border couple. Then suddenly, a fence was built between them and they were ordered to stay apart.
Brutal Afghan attacks highlight limitations of U.S.-Taliban deal
Two brutal attacks this week laid bare major weaknesses of the U.S.-Taliban troop withdrawal pact: nothing in it obliges the Taliban to prevent such massacres and the Afghan government’s ability to thwart them will only wane as U.S. troops pull out.
Ireland’s Fianna Fail aims to complete government talks by end-May
The leader of one of the three parties negotiating to form a new government in Ireland hopes to agree a policy programme by the end of May for members to vote on and end a months-long political deadlock that has been overshadowed by the coronavirus pa…
UK may look into how care homes make Covid-19 deaths public
Britain’s health minister Matt Hancock said on Friday he may look into care homes’ approach to making coronavirus deaths public after authorities declined to disclose the number of deaths in individual care homes.
UK deal on EU ties is possible, PM Johnson tells Ireland’s Varadkar
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar on Friday that he believed it was possible to reach an agreement with the European Union over Britain’s future relationship, Johnson’s office said.
