The Netherlands - confusion court rulings : Covid: Dutch crisis as court orders end to Covid curfew - but later, a higher court ruled curfew could stay in place

A court in The Hague has told the Dutch government that an overnight curfew to reduce the spread of coronavirus should be lifted, ruling that it breaches the right to free movement.

The court said the 21:00 to 04:30 curfew was imposed by an emergency law when there was no "acute emergency".

Later, a higher court ruled that the curfew could stay in place pending an appeal on Friday.

The curfew, imposed in January, led to rioting in several Dutch cities.

Police were patrolling streets near the Dutch parliament on Tuesday evening but no unrest has been reported so far.

The earlier court ruling - which said the curfew should be lifted immediately - was a victory for campaign group Viruswaarheid (Virus Truth) and a major upset for the government.

Read more at: Covid: Dutch crisis as court orders end to Covid curfew - BBC News

Greece Passes Austerity Laws In Critical Vote

Greek MPs have passed a series of painful new austerity measures into law aimed at saving the country's economy from collapse.

The reforms, including tax hikes and pensions, were overwhelmingly backed, but some figures inside the prime minister's left-wing Syriza party opposed the deal.

The bill had to pass in order for Greece to start negotiations with creditors on a third bailout worth €86bn (£61bn) over three years.

But the reforms will condemn the Greek people to more years of economic hardship.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said it was the best possible deal he could get from the creditors to prevent Greece being forced out of the euro.

Read more: Greece Passes Austerity Laws In Critical Vote