Congo president’s chief of staff denies graft charges as trial begins
The chief of staff to Democratic Republic of Congo’s president denied all wrongdoing on Monday as his trial on charges of embezzling more than $50 million in public funds opened live on national television.
In Canada’s Quebec province, deconfinement takes baby steps with schools re-opening
The Canadian province of Quebec, where a majority of cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, have been tallied countrywide, re-opened some of its schools on Monday, as some parents and teachers expressed uncertainty over the move’s sa…
Portugal counts on drones to bolster defences against wildfires during pandemic
Portugal will use long-range drones and other surveillance means to reinforce the monitoring of summer wildfires, officials said on Monday, responding to concerns over the country’s readiness to tackle forest blazes during the coronavirus pandemic.
India looks to ease lockdown even as coronavirus infections jump
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday the country would look to ease a nearly seven-week lockdown aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, despite also reporting its biggest single-day jump in cases.
UK issues guidance for employers as lockdown cautiously eased
Britain published guidance on Monday on how employers should begin cautiously re-opening the economy, including advice on re-designed workspaces and staggered shift systems.
Ghana president says one person infected 533 with coronavirus at fish factory
A worker at a fish-processing factory in Ghana’s Atlantic seafront city of Tema infected 533 other workers at the facility with the coronavirus, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a broadcast late on Sunday.
Iraqi who recovered from COVID-19 faced some social stigma
Mohannad Ennezi spent nearly a month in a hospital isolation ward in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul being treated for COVID-19. Now he has recovered, Ennezi says he has faced suspicion from some locals who worry he will spread the disease.
Hungary summons Nordic diplomats over rule-by-decree row
(This May 11 story corrects reference to Council of Europe in paragraph 9)
France pushing for tough EU response to any West Bank annexation: diplomats
France is urging its European Union partners to consider threatening Israel with a tough response if it goes ahead with a de facto annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, three EU diplomats said.
Too soon to start easing lockdown in Scotland, Sturgeon says
It is too soon to begin easing coronavirus lockdown measures in Scotland, its First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Monday, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out a cautious plan to get lift some restrictions.
