Iran condemns Germany’s ban on Hezbollah activity
Iran has condemned Berlin’s ban of Hezbollah activity in Germany and its designation of the Iranian-backed Lebanese group as a terrorist organisation, saying the move serves U.S. and Israeli interests, Iranian state media reported on Friday.
Japan PM Abe leaning towards extending state of emergency, to decide May 4
Japanese Prime |(Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday he was leaning towards extending the country’s state of emergency for about a month as experts said coronavirus restrictions should remain in place until the number of cases falls further.
Malta announces gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions
Malta has announced a gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions as the number of new cases dwindles, with many shops allowed to reopen from Monday.
Syria says casualties in Homs blast, war monitor says Israel behind it
The Syrian army said on Friday a series of blasts at an ammunition depot east of Homs city led to casualties but was not caused by an attack as earlier announced, but a war monitor said it was the result of an Israeli strike.
China’s Hubei, where coronavirus began, eases lockdown
China’s central province of Hubei, where the novel coronavirus behind the pandemic was first detected, will lower its emergency response level from Saturday in the latest relaxation of lockdowns put in place to contain the virus.
France’s Macron says May 11 will not signal return to normal life
President Emmanuel Macron warned on Friday that the end of the national lockdown on May 11 would only be a first step as France looks to move out of the crisis created by the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Business booms for ‘yellow’ firms backing Hong Kong protest movement
Hong Kong anti-government protesters queued outside businesses that openly support the democracy movement on Friday, a show of support for “yellow” restaurants and cafes reeling from the twin impact of the coronavirus crisis and months of demonstration…
Foreign criticism of activists’ arrests ‘unfounded’: Hong Kong
Hong Kong hit back on Friday at Washington and London for condemning the arrests in April of 15 pro-democracy activists, saying that their criticism was “unfounded” and “grossly irresponsible.”
Learning in a pandemic, when ‘online school’ is the village chalkboard
With her school shut because of the coronavirus, Tolu Alagba kneels as she copies down class notes from a communal village chalkboard, the closest thing to online lessons on an island with no electricity, a boat ride from Nigeria’s megacity Lagos.
Imported by the rich, coronavirus now devastating Brazil’s poor
Imported by the Brazilian elite vacationing in Europe, the new coronavirus is now ravaging the country’s poor, ripping through tightly-packed neighborhoods where the disease is harder to control.
