New work by Chinese dissident artist shows support for Hong Kong protests
A new work by Chinese dissident artist Badiucao in support of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters shows the image of a lone man standing in the path of a tank taken on Tiananmen Square in 1989.
Azerbaijan to allow restaurants to reopen, with conditions
Azerbaijan will allow cafes and restaurants to reopen in the capital Baku and other big cities on Monday, but working hours and the number of customers will be restricted, the government said.
Zambia reopens border with Tanzania to cargo after COVID-19 closure
Zambia reopened its Nakonde border with Tanzania on Friday for cargo after a five-day closure of the transit point for copper and cobalt exports and fuel imports, but people were not allowed to cross, a provincial minister told Reuters.
Czechs to take major steps to relax virus restrictions
The Czech Republic will take major steps to relax its coronavirus lockdown measures from May 25, opening restaurants, hotels and pools and allowing gatherings of hundreds of people, health officials said on Friday.
Almighty cleanup: St. Peter’s in Rome gets coronavirus scrub-down
Next time you fret about sanitising your desk or kitchen counter because of the coronavirus, spare a thought for the workers whose task on Friday was to wipe down St. Peter’s Basilica.
Norway likely to keep travel restrictions until August 20
Norway will likely maintain travel restrictions it has imposed until Aug. 20, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Friday, as the Nordic country negotiates a path between restarting economic activity and preventing a new wave of coronavirus infections.
Denmark reports zero coronavirus deaths for first time since March
Denmark, the first country in Europe to gradually start reopening, reported no coronavirus-related deaths on Friday from the day earlier for the first time since March 13.
Court orders suspension of South African soldiers over death of man in lockdown
South Africa’s High Court ordered the suspension on Friday of soldiers and police officers who were at or near the home of a man who was killed last month, following allegations he was beaten to death by security forces.
Pandemic teleworking is straining families: EU study
The COVID-19 pandemic is placing unprecedented strain on families and working life, an EU study showed on Friday, with more than a fifth of people who now work at home in households with younger children struggling to concentrate on their jobs.
Chinese envoy says U.S. undermining global economy, virus fight
A Chinese envoy has accused the United States of undermining the global economy by building trade barriers and artificially prolonging the global coronavirus pandemic by halting funding to the World Health Organization.
