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.
No popcorn at movies as Czechs prepare to reopen cinemas and other businesses
The Czech Republic outlined rules on Friday for cinemas, hairdressers and other businesses to re-open on May 11 that include a food and drink ban at the movies as the country eases restrictions aimed at slowing the coronavirus’s spread.
Iran death toll from coronavirus rises by 63 to 6,091: Health Ministry
Iran’s death toll from the outbreak of the new coronavirus increased by 63 in the past 24 hours to 6,091, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV on Friday.
Britain’s daily testing target may have been met: minister
Britain might have hit its daily target of carrying out 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day, or will come close, putting in place the beginnings of a network to test, track and trace people through the pandemic, housing minister Robert Jenrick said on Friday….
COVID-19 death rate in deprived areas in England double that of better off places: ONS
Deaths from COVID-19 in deprived areas of England was more than double that found in well-off locations, with London by far the worst affected, according to official figures released on Friday.
