Lebanon aims for IMF aid after approving crisis plan
Lebanon plans to seek International Monetary Fund aid after approving an economic rescue plan setting out vast losses in its financial system, as it aims to chart a course out of the most destabilising crisis since its 1975-90 civil war.
UK is past the peak, says PM Johnson, promising lockdown exit plan
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday Britain was now past the peak of its coronavirus outbreak and promised to set out a plan next week on how the country might start gradually returning to normal life.
Highlights: British PM Johnson’s statement on coronavirus
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday Britain was now past the peak of its coronavirus outbreak and promised to set out a lockdown exit strategy next week.
France to pay 50 euros per person for bike repairs to boost cycling post-lockdown
France will contribute 50 euros per person towards bicycle repairs after a nationwide coronavirus lockdown ends on May 11, taking an innovative step to encourage cycling and keep cars off city roads.
After surviving COVID-19, French neurosurgeon faces long road to recovery
Georg Dorfmuller had hardly been sick during a career that saw him rise to become a top paediatric neurosurgeon in Paris, but all that changed when he contracted COVID-19.
Portugal relaxes coronavirus lockdown with ‘sector-by-sector’ plan
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Thursday announced a sector-by-sector plan to gradually lift lockdown measures imposed six weeks ago to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
Turkey says deployment of Russian defences delayed, but will happen
Turkey’s planned deployment of Russian S-400 missile defences has been delayed by the coronavirus outbreak but will ultimately go ahead, President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Thursday, despite Washington’s warnings that Ankara risks U.S. sanctio…
Former Polish presidents, PMs call for presidential election boycott
Nine former Polish prime ministers and presidents urged voters on Thursday to boycott next month’s planned presidential election, arguing that the ballot, to be held by post, could be unconstitutional and did not guarantee voter confidentiality.
Italy’s daily tallies of coronavirus deaths and cases fall
Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 285 on Thursday, against 323 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new infections stood at 1,872, down from 2,086 on Wednesday.
U.S. charges ex-Honduran police chief ‘El Tigre’ with drug conspiracy
U.S. prosecutors on Thursday announced drug trafficking charges against a former chief of the Honduran National Police, the latest in a string of U.S. drug cases against officials of the Central American country.
