South Korea, China and Germany begin easing Covid-19 restrictions despite small upticks in cases and museum in London aims to remember life under lockdown

*)As restrictions ease, governments worry Covid1-9 second wave

Countries are struggling to strike a balance between public and economic health as they reopen aspects of life closed to counter Covid-19.

South Korea, Singapore and China are looking at setbacks in their fight against the novel coronavirus after loosening restrictions.

In Europe, France and Spain are enjoying a relaxation of restrictions, as Britain faces a longer lockdown after clocking the world’s second-highest Covid-19 death toll.

*)At least 19 dead as Iranian vessel hit by friendly fire

An Iranian destroyer mistakenly shot and sank a second Iranian vessel, killing at least 19 people and injuring 15 others.

A missile was fired from the Jamaran and accidentally struck the Konarak during a naval exercise in the Persian Gulf.

The Konarak, a general purpose vessel, had been putting targets out in the water for other ships to fire upon.

*)Anti-government rallies resume in Iraq

Anti-government rallies seeking early polls and accountability have resumed in Iraq ending months of relative calm.

Clashes between security personnel and protesters were reported just days after Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi's government came to power.

The protests first erupted in October, demanding an end to corruption and unemployment and an overhaul of the ruling class.

*)Poland parliament speaker gets 14 days to set polling date

Poland's top electoral body gave the speaker of parliament 14 days to set a new date for presidential elections.

The election must be held within 60 days of this announcement, or by late July, according to the resolution by the State Electoral Commission.

The voting was initially scheduled for last week but was suspended amid debate over how it could be done during the pandemic.

And finally…

*)London museum preserves lockdown life

The global coronavirus pandemic is still raging but museums are already gathering testimony and objects to remember life under lockdown.

The Museum of London has launched an appeal for Londoners to donate items that reflect their lives during the outbreak.

Items collected so far include a makeshift rattle used to accompany the weekly "clap for carers" across the country.

*)Ahmaud Arbery’s killers arrested

A white ex-police officer and his son have been arrested for murdering unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Arbery in the US state of Georgia.

The arrest was made after a video emerged showing 25-year-old Arbery was hunted down while he was jogging and shot to death by the pair on February 23.

Voices from around the world joined Arbery's family in calling the killing a lynching and demanded the pair be convicted.

*)Case against former Trump aide dropped

The US Department of Justice has dropped its criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security advisor, Michael Flynn.

Flynn was seeking to withdraw his 2017 guilty plea in which he admitted lying to the FBI about conversations with Russia's ambassador to the US.

He was one of several former Trump aides caught up in Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 US election.

*)Italy condemns attack by Libyan warlord

Italy has condemned an attack on Libya's capital Tripoli by warlord Khalifa Haftar.

His militia fired rockets at the city's port, its international airport and a coastal road where Italy's embassy is located.

*)At least over five civilians were killed in the attack.

UN appeals for $6.7B to help poor countries fight Covid-19

The UN is calling on governments, companies and billionaires to contribute to a $6.7 billion fund to help vulnerable countries fight the coronavirus.

It warns that failure to help could lead to a hunger pandemic, famine, riots and more conflict.

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said the peak of the pandemic isn’t expected to hit the world’s poorest countries for another three to six months.

And finally…

*)Supermoon brings brightness to an Earth filled with sadness

The last Supermoon of 2020 rose to provide a stunning spectacle.

The phenomenon occurs when a full moon is within 10 percent of its closest distance to Earth.

If you missed it, the next Supermoon will rise again in summer 2021.

*)Trump: Coronavirus worse for US than Pearl Harbor, 9/11

US President Donald Trump says fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has hit America worse than Pearl Harbor and 9/11.

Trump again lashed out at China, saying the global crisis could have been prevented.

The US has over 1.2 million Covid-19 cases and more than 74,000 fatalities so far.

*)Venezuela’s Maduro says US plotted to overthrow him

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appeared on national TV, showing the passports of two US mercenaries accused of being part of an attempted coup.

Venezuelan state TV also showed one mercenary saying he was instructed to seize control of Caracas airport and take Maduro to the US.

The US has denied involvement and says it will do everything it can t secure the release of its citizens.

*)Iraq lawmakers approve new government

Mustafa Kadhemi took office as Iraq's new prime minister after breaking months of political deadlock.

Kadhemi will begin his term without a full cabinet after several ministerial candidates were rejected.

Former PM Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned last year during widespread anti-government protests.

*)Kenya floods kill at least 194

Floods and landslides killed nearly 200 people in western Kenya and displaced 100,000, while damaging critical infrastructure.

High water levels at two dams forced the evacuation of villagers at risk, officials said.

Kenya's meteorological department says heavy rain is expected to continue in already hard-hit areas in coming weeks.

And finally…

*)Banksy honours frontline nurses in new piece

Banksy’s new artwork was unveiled on the wall of a corridor of University Hospital Southampton in south England.

It shows a boy in dungarees playing with the figurine of a nurse in a superhero cape.

The painting was also verified by the anonymous street artist on his Instagram account.

*)Trump pushes for reopening US even as daily death toll spikes

President Donald Trump is pushing for economic reopening as the daily US death toll spiked.

Trump made these comments during a visit to a mask-making factory in Arizona where he was seen not wearing a mask.

And in the latest sign of the Trump administration slowing down its fight against Covid-19, the White House is set to disband the emergency task force handling the outbreak.

*)Turkey sends medical aid to Ramallah and Gaza to fight virus

Turkey has sent medical supplies to Palestine to help in its fight against Covid-19.

The Palestinian Health Authority received test kits and other equipment which will be sent on to Ramallah and Gaza.

Turkey has sent Covid-19 assistance to almost 60 countries since the start of the outbreak.

*)Philippines closes leading network critical of Duterte

The Philippine government has ordered the country's largest TV network to shut its doors.

Media giant ABS-CBN signed off on Tuesday evening and now awaits licence renewal by a parliament dominated by President Duterte's supporters.

Duterte has repeatedly threatened ABS-CBN’s franchise, after the channel angered him by refusing to air his campaign commercials in 2016.

*)Somalia investigates Kenya aid plane crash

Somalia has launched an investigation into a Kenyan plane crash in the southern part of the country, killing all six people on board.

The plane was carrying coronavirus aid supplies when it crashed in Baidoa, Somalia on Monday.

Somali officials declined to speculate on the cause of the crash, but a witness at the airfield said the plane appeared to have been shot down.

And finally…

*)Movie star Tom Cruise set to shoot feature film in space

Tom Cruise is heading into orbit for his most ambitious project yet, the first ever feature film set in space.

NASA confirmed the plan to send Cruise to the International Space Station.

Tweeting about the project, NASA administrator Jim Brindestine said there is a need for more popular media about space to inspire future generations.

Cruise is rumoured to be in talks with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to make the film.

*)Italy eases lockdown as global toll crosses 250,000

Life has somewhat resumed in Italy after millions of people were allowed to return to work amid lockdown-easing measures.

Under the new rules, 4.5 million Italians can clock back in, relatives can reunite and more importantly for some, cafes will reopen for takeaway services.

Even as many countries partially lifted their lockdowns after successfully quelling the spread of the virus, the global death toll from Covid-19 climbed past 250,000.

*)Turkey's Erdogan announces first steps past coronavirus

Turkey will gradually take new steps to start post-coronavirus normalisation, the nation’s president announced.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said travel restrictions will first be lifted from seven cities, namely Antalya, Aydin, Erzurum, Hatay, Malatya, Mersin and Mugla.

The country will also reopen hair salons and shopping malls on May 11.

*)New York Times leads the way at 2020 Pulitzers

The New York Times picked up the most awards as the 2020 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced virtually on Monday night.

The Times collected three awards, including for an investigative report into New York City’s taxi industry and for a series on Russian President Putin.

Amongst other winners, Reuters took home the breaking news photography award for Hong Kong protest pictures and The Washington Post for explanatory reporting on the effects of extreme temperatures on the planet.

*)Venezuela says two US citizens among those nabbed after beach raid

Venezuelan security forces arrested eight people, including two alleged US citizens, following a beach invasion.

The raid aimed at capturing socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

A video of a detained Venezuelan saying two US citizens were among those nabbed was posted on Twitter and broadcast on local TV.

And finally…

*)Nicolas Cage to star in 'Tiger King' series

Nicolas Cage will star in a scripted television series about flamboyant Tiger King zookeeper Joe Exotic, Cage’s publicist said.

The Oscar-winning US actor will also executive-produce the show, a wildly popular docuseries that recently shot to fame.

"Tiger King" has been viewed a reported 34 million times in just 10 days following its release in March.

*)New Zealand reports no new Covid-19 cases

New Zealand has recorded no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since March 16.

Last week the Pacific nation ended a strict lockdown that helped contain the outbreak.

The death toll remains 20 while the number of infected people stands at 1,487, 86 percent of them now recovered.

*)Pompeo backs Trump on virus coming from China lab

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is backing his boss’s claims that the Covid-19 virus originated in a lab in China’s Wuhan.

But their claims contradict the US intelligence community’s findings – that there is no evidence the virus was man made or genetically modified.

The Wuhan claims come amid reports President Donald Trump ignored warnings in January from top US spy agencies that Covid-19 could become a global pandemic.

*)Venezuela foils attack by boat on main port city

Venezuela says it foiled an attempt by a group of armed men to invade the country by boat on Sunday.

Authorities say eight of the attackers have been killed. Two attackers have been arrested and are being interrogated.

Socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello says the attack was carried out by neighbouring Colombia with US support to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

*)Amnesty reports chilling details of Egypt press crackdown

Amnesty International says journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent.

A new report by the rights group highlights 37 cases of journalists detained as part of the government's crackdown on press freedoms.

Many of the journalists are charged with spreading false news or misusing social media under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law, expanded to include dissent.

And finally…

*)Broadway struggles to weather Covid-19 crisis

New York's Broadway theatres fear the show will not go on without public funding to weather the Covid-19 crisis.

Celebrated theatres around Times Square normally make around $33 million a week in tickets sales.

Now, nothing.

Many theatre professionals are on jobless benefits and it seems they will only get back to work if Broadway reopens in September as planned.

*)Trump says evidence ties virus to Wuhan lab

US President Donald Trump has launched another blistering attack on China, blaming it for the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump claims he's seen evidence linking the virus to a lab in Wuhan and that an investigation into its origin is underway.

Hours earlier, the US National Intelligence agency contradicted conspiracy theories, saying the virus was not man-made or genetically modified.

*)Countrywide protests in Lebanon set to continue

Lebanon says it's seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund to tackle rising inflation.

More anti-government demonstrations are expected across the country over the economic crisis, which has deepened because of the coronavirus.

In Tripoli, people are defying lockdown restrictions to protest and to go to work.

*)South Africa allows some businesses to reopen

Around 1.5 million South Africans have returned to work as some restrictions are relaxed across the country.

Shops will be reopened and restaurants will be able to provide take away service.

The country has the highest number of cases on the continent and was under a strict lockdown for over a month.

*)Millions in China travel for Labour Day holiday

More than 100 million people in China are expected to travel across the country for the five-day labour day holiday.

China relaxed its quarantine measures as its coronavirus cases dwindle.

The relaxation means travellers won't need to quarantine themselves for two weeks when they return.

And finally…

*)Animal adoptions rise in Moscow

Staff at Russia's Odin Animal Shelter say 78 dogs and cats have been adopted.

The shelter started an online promotion during Moscow's coronavirus lockdown.

Many new owners say they had always wanted a pet but had only managed to find the time to welcome a new animal into their homes during the lockdown.

*)US says remdesivir shows ‘clear-cut’ effect in treating coronavirus

For the first time since Covid-19 killed more than 220,000 people, one drug is giving doctors some hope of improving outcomes in Covid-19 patients.

Covid-19 patients who took the antiviral remdesivir recovered about 30 percent faster than those on a placebo, results from a clinical trial showed.

The New York Times reported US drug regulators may announce their decision to allow emergency use of the drug as soon as this week.

*)Khalifa Haftar’s illegal militia halts fighting in Libya after setbacks

A militia loyal to Libya's warlord Khalifa Haftar announced a unilateral ceasefire for the month of Ramadan after suffering military setbacks.

A militia spokesman said the ceasefire came at the request of the international community and "friendly countries".

There was no immediate response from the UN-backed government in Tripoli to the militia's ceasefire declaration.

*)Germany designates Lebanon’s Hezbollah a 'terror organisation'

Germany has banned Hezbollah activity on its soil and designated it a terrorist organisation.

"Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has banned the terrorist organisation Hezbollah in Germany," a ministry spokesman said on Twitter.

Germany had previously distinguished between Lebanon group Hezbollah's political arm and its military units.

*)Number of Covid-19 patients who recovered exceeds 1 million

More than one million people have recovered from the coronavirus worldwide, according to US-based tracker Worldometer.

The US, which has the most cases, also has the highest number of recoveries, followed by Spain and Germany.

Covid-19 has infected more than 3,200,000 people and killed over 228,000 since the first known outbreak started in China’s Wuhan in 2019.

And finally…

*)New York's homeless flock to empty subway trains

New York leaders have pledged to take action as homeless people shelter in subway trains abandoned during the coronavirus crisis.

*

Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the transportation authority to scrub trains daily so essential workers can commute without worries of infection.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced partially closure of stations to allow

authorities to remove the homeless and connect them with shelters, though it is unclear if any have space to take in more people.

*)US Covid-19 death toll surpasses that of Vietnam war

The US coronavirus death toll has crossed 59,000 on Tuesday; that’s more than the number of American lives lost in the Vietnam War.

US military involvement in Vietnam killed at least 58,220.

In addition to exceeding the Vietnam War toll, the US toll for Covid-19 also tops the number of annual deaths from the flu in recent years.

*)Suicide bomber kills three, wounds 15 in Kabul

A suicide bombing in Kabul province, not far from Afghanistan's capital, has killed three people and wounded 15.

The suicide bomber was among civilians when he detonated his explosives in Char Asiab district of Kabul.

A UN report this week said violence in Afghanistan has gone up in the first three months of 2020 after the signing of the Taliban-US peace deal.

*)Bomb blast in Afrin kills at least 40 people

At least 40 civilians were killed, including 11 children, when a bomb detonated on an oil tanker in the northern Syrian town of Afrin on Tuesday.

The YPG/PKK attack occurred in a crowded area in Afrin’s centre, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Twitter.

Turkey's military and allied Syrian opposition forces seized Afrin from the YPG in March 2018 in a major military offensive.

*)US panel wants India on religious freedom blacklist

A US government panel has called for India to be put on a religious freedom blacklist after a "drastic" downturn under PM Narendra Modi.

Its annual report said India should join the ranks of "countries of particular concern" which are subject to sanctions if they do not improve.

It called on the US to impose punitive measures, including visa bans, on Indian officials who also provide funding to groups that incite hate speech.

And finally…

*)Coronavirus brews trouble for tea amid disrupted supply

The coronavirus outbreak is causing a rare stir in the usually staid global tea market, with labour lockdowns stifling supplies.

Just five countries – China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Vietnam – account for 82 percent of global tea exports.

However, strict restrictions to contain the coronavirus pandemic have disrupted the key leaf-picking season.

*)Cases in US cross 1M mark

Covid-19 cases in the US crossed the one million mark.

More than 56,000 people have died from the virus in the country.

Many US states continue to ease restrictions in a bid to reopen their economies despite the spiralling crisis.

*)Turkey sends medical aid to US

Turkey has sent medical equipment to the United States to help in its efforts to combat Covid-19.

A Turkish military cargo plane left for the US carrying 500,000 surgical masks, 40,000 hazmat suits and other gear.

Turkey has so far delivered aid to at least 57 countries to help fight the pandemic.

*)Hundreds protest in Lebanon over ailing economy

Clashes erupted in Lebanon as hundreds protested over a deteriorating economy.

The army said several bank branches were set on fire, and a molotov cocktail was tossed at a military vehicle.

The Red Cross said it had transported three people to the hospital and treated others at the scene.

*)US admits to killing civilians during Somalia air strike

The US military has admitted to killing two civilians and injuring three others during an air strike in Somalia last year.

According to US Africa Command, the strike was carried out against Al Shabab terror group in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region.

The civilian deaths, AFRICOM said, occurred as a result of US or Al Shabab munitions that exploded during the strike.

And finally…

*)Michelle Obama's book tour to air on Netflix

Michelle Obama’s tour to promote her best-selling 2018 memoir “Becoming”, has been turned into a documentary film for Netflix.

It's a behind-the-scenes look at the former first lady’s 34-city tour and will be released on May 6.

Former US president Barack Obama and Michelle signed a multimillion-dollar deal in 2018 to produce content for Netflix.