World News Hits on Saturday

SEENews reviews the most dominating headlines of the daily world news. The following titles topped the world news websites.

Web over virus: Taiwan sommelier takes wine tasting online

A young Taiwanese sommelier is taking his wine tasting classes online to keep his business afloat, as social distancing rules to contain the spread of the new coronavirus prevents large gatherings. (Reuters)

Coronavirus: Belgium unveils plans to lift lockdown

Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès has announced a detailed plan to gradually lift the country's coronavirus restrictions. Under new rules, all shops will be allowed to open their doors again from 11 May, with schools reopening the following week - albeit with a cap on pupil numbers in each class. (BBC news)

Aides and allies making concerted effort to get Trump to stop doing daily briefings

There has been a concerted effort among aides and allies to get President Donald Trump to stop conducting the daily coronavirus briefings, multiple sources tell CNN. (CNN)

Italian towns are being disinfected with truck-mounted snow cannons

Italian authorities are using snow cannons to disinfect entire towns in the Alps region of Italy ahead of the relaxation of lockdown measures.(Euronews)

India eases Covid-19 lockdown, allowing some shops to reopen on limited basis as Modi preaches virtues of ‘self-reliance’

New Delhi has given the green light for small shops across India to open their doors under certain conditions, as the country begins to relax far-reaching lockdown measures brought to stop the spread of Covid-19. (Russia Today)

Number of COVID-19 cases in northern Syria 'highly likely' bigger than reported - MSF

The international medical NGO, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), believes that it is "highly likely" that the real number of COVID-19 cases in northern Syria is bigger than officially reported since there is a lack of testing capacities in the region, MSF emergency manager for Syria, Will Turner, said. (Sputnik)

'Thank you coronavirus helpers': First responders, health care workers can shop during special hours, get discounts

Retailers across the nation are giving priority access to health care workers and first responders. Stores are designating special shopping hours to help those serving on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. The designated hours are similar to what retailers introduced in March for seniors and shoppers with underlying health concerns. (USA Today)

U.S. officials scramble to warn against bogus cure floated by Trump

Urgent bulletins were issued to tell the public of the potentially lethal dangers of injecting disinfectants. The FDA also issued a separate warning about an anti-malarial drug President Trump had championed. (The Washington Post)

U.S. Virus Death Toll Surpasses 50,000

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus exceeds 50,000, accounting for more than a quarter of the world’s deaths. (The Wall Street Journal)