Factbox: From hairdressers to beaches – Spain’s plan to phase out lockdown
Spain announced a four-phase plan on Tuesday to lift one of the toughest coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and return to normality by the end of June.
Despite outcry, Brazil’s Bolsonaro taps family friend as top cop amid probes
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday named a family friend to head the federal police, just days after his justice minister quit over alleged meddling in law enforcement, which sparked a criminal investigation and talk of impeachment.
Czech parliament backs short emergency extension as lockdown seen ending early
The lower house of the Czech parliament voted on Tuesday to extend a state of emergency until May 17, a week less than the government had sought, as the country charts a course to emerge from a coronavirus lockdown earlier than forecast.
Aggressive testing to underpin France’s coronavirus lockdown exit
France will adopt an aggressive doctrine on COVID-19 testing from May 11 so that it can slowly unwind its lockdown and avoid economic meltdown, its prime minister said on Tuesday, warning that citizens have to be disciplined to avoid a new outbreak.
Canada province hit worst by coronavirus aims to slowly restart economy in May
Quebec, the Canadian province hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, on Tuesday said it would slowly reopen its economy in May while keeping some social restrictions to avoid possible flare-ups.
Alcohol smuggling jumps in Namibia amid coronavirus crackdown
Namibian police reported on Tuesday a jump in people smuggling beers and whisky from neighbouring Angola and Zambia, using illegal border crossings to beat a ban on alcohol sales that is part of the country’s plan to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Spain to phase out coronavirus lockdown, eyes normality by end-June
Spain announced a four-phase plan on Tuesday to lift one of the toughest coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and return to normality by the end of June as the daily death toll fell to 301, less than a third of a record high of 950 in early April.
Driver who rammed Paris police pledged allegiance to Islamic State: prosecutor
The driver who rammed his car into two police motorcyclists in a Paris suburb had pledged allegiance to Islamic State, the French anti-terrorism prosecutor said on Tuesday.
Greece plans gradual relaxation of lockdown measures
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday restrictions on citizens’ movements would be lifted and more shops allowed to reopen from May 4 in a gradual easing of a lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
Putin extends Russia’s lockdown for two weeks, prepares to ease in mid-May
President Vladimir Putin extended coronavirus lockdown measures for another two weeks on Tuesday, while ordering his government to begin preparations for a gradual lifting of the curbs from mid-May.
