Vatican, Italy start return to religious normal as public Masses resume
Pope Francis inaugurated the full reopening of St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday and Catholic churches held public Masses for the first time in two months in the latest easing of Italy’s coronavirus restrictions.
Japan to put off bid to raise prosecutors’ retirement age after backlash
Japan’s government will postpone a bid to raise the retirement age of public prosecutors, media said on Monday, given an intense public backlash fuelled by fears for judicial independence.
Indonesia reports 496 new coronavirus infections, 43 deaths
Indonesia reported on Monday 496 new coronavirus infections, taking the total in the Southeast Asian country to 18,010, said health ministry official Achmad Yurianto
U.S. likely to back call for independent evaluation of WHO’s handling of coronavirus: envoys
Health ministers from around the world are expected to call for an independent evaluation of the World Health Organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during a WHO meeting on Monday.
Yemen’s Saudi-backed government pleads for coronavirus aid
Yemen’s Saudi-backed government accused its Houthi foes of covering up a big outbreak of coronavirus in areas they hold and the United Nations warned that the country could suffer a “catastrophic” food security situation due to the pandemic.
Malaysia reports 47 new coronavirus cases with no new deaths
Malaysian health authorities on Monday reported 47 new coronavirus cases, bringing the cumulative total to 6,941 cases.
Orban’s government expects emergency powers to end by early June
The government of Hungary’s nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban expects that much-criticised emergency powers it adopted in response to the coronavirus pandemic will end by early June, his chief of staff told broadcaster Hir TV late on Sunday.
Yemen could face ‘catastrophic’ food situation as pandemic worsens: FAO
Yemen, already pushed to the brink of famine by a five-year war, could see a “catastrophic” food security situation due to the coronavirus pandemic and lower remittances from the Gulf, the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Monday.
Macron, Merkel to announce new ‘Franco-German initiative’ on Monday
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will present a new Franco-German initiative later on Monday, Macron’s office said in a surprise statement.
Start ‘travel bubbles’ for low-risk countries, Heathrow urges UK government
Britain should set up “travel bubbles” with low-risk countries to allow the movement of people, instead of bringing in new coronavirus quarantine rules when flights restart, according to Heathrow Airport.
