Ireland seeks health officials’ backing to speed up reopening plan
Ireland’s government has proposed speeding up the reopening of parts of its economy to the country’s top health officials and will make a decision on Friday, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.
Spain maps route for late June tourism opening
Spain will open up land borders with France and Portugal on June 22 and also aims to start welcoming tourists to some islands and other areas that have the coronavirus under control around the same time, a minister said on Thursday.
Lebanon to adopt one approach on financial losses: presidency
Lebanon will decide on one approach on figures it is presenting in IMF negotiations, the presidency said on Thursday, seeking to reconcile different approaches taken by the government and central bank for assessing losses in the financial system.
Irish pubs say two metre social distancing spells ruin
Ireland’s usually tightly-packed pubs say they face ruin unless the government eases one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, under which they can only reopen in August and must keep drinkers two metres apart – reducing capacity for some from hundreds…
Europe rights body urges Malta to stop keeping rescued migrants offshore
Europe’s leading human rights body urged Malta on Thursday to allow disembarkation of more than 400 migrants being held on four former tour group boats just outside the Mediterranean island’s territorial waters.
Turkey plans to resume flights with 40 countries in June
Turkey plans to resume flights with around 40 countries in June and has reached preliminary agreements for reciprocal air travel with 15 countries, Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu said on Thursday.
Tunisians emerge from lockdown into mosques and cafes
Tunisians returned to mosques and cafes on Thursday as the country ended most lockdown restrictions after largely containing the spread of the novel coronavirus for now.
One century on, Hungarians still feel World War One ‘injustice’
For Laszlo Petrik, an ethnic Hungarian living on the Slovak side of the River Danube, the treaty after World War One which led to Europe’s maps being re-drawn stirs up strong feelings.
Explainer: Hong Kong’s China national anthem bill aims to enforce ‘respect’
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council passed a bill on Thursday that would criminalise disrespect of China’s national anthem, a move critics see as the latest sign of Beijing’s tightening grip on the city.
Hong Kong passes China national anthem bill amid protests by democracy lawmakers
Hong Kong passed a bill on Thursday that would criminalise disrespect of China’s national anthem, a move critics see as the latest sign of Beijing’s tightening grip on the semi-autonomous city.
