Crime crumbles in coronavirus hit Italy, but loan-sharking jumps
Italy’s crime rate slumped 66.6% in March, thanks to a government lockdown introduced to halt the coronavirus, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.
Cyprus announces partial easing of lockdown from May 4
Cyprus will begin easing its tight coronavirus lockdown by allowing some businesses to reopen beginning on May 4, with restrictions on movement to be lifted on May 21, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Wednesday.
Riot rocks coronavirus-hit prison in Sierra Leone
Smoke billowed from the central prison in Sierra Leone’s capital and gunfire could be heard from nearby streets on Wednesday after a riot broke out, a Reuters reporter said.
UK to be ‘extremely careful’ in relaxing rules on outdoor activities
The British government will think very carefully about relaxing lockdown rules regarding open-air activities, despite evidence that transmission of the coronavirus is less likely outdoors, England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said.
France coronavirus death toll climbs above 24,000
The number of people who have died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 427 to 24,087 on Wednesday, while hospitalizations for the disease and people in ICU units continued to decline, the health ministry said in a statement.
Polish ombudsman asks court to block presidential election plan
Poland’s human rights commissioner sought a court order on Wednesday to block government preparations to hold a presidential election on May 10 by postal ballot, saying they were a “gross violation” of the law.
Nigeria to ease lockdowns in three states over six-week period
Nigeria will ease coronavirus lockdowns in three states over a six-week period from May 4, the head of the country’s task force on the virus said on Wednesday.
‘Test and trace’ has worked for us, Ghana’s president says
A rigorous programme of testing for coronavirus and tracing the contacts of those found positive has helped Ghana avoid an explosion in cases that could have overwhelmed its health system, President Nana Akufo-Addo said on Wednesday.
Pompeo urges end to overflight rights for Iran airline flying to Venezuela
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday called on countries to deny overflight rights to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline under U.S. sanctions, which he said recently delivered cargoes of “unknown support” to the Venezuelan government.
German tourist sector dismayed as Berlin extends travel warning
Germany might be easing some COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, but the government tamped down any hopes in the tourism sector that it might relax holiday guidance when it extended its warning against worldwide travel until June 14 on Wednesday.
