Our socially distancing podcast team updates you on the state of the lockdown as the first signs emerge that the outbreak is being brought under control. What do privacy campaigners have to say about the government’s plan to use tracker apps? Why is Wopke Hoekstra persona non grata in Italy? And will the football season end sooner than the row about whether to end the football season? Away from the corona doom and gloom we’ve got news of a bionic bird and how MPs short-circuited Utrecht’s plan to switch off the gas supply.

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Ophef of the week: Call to sing national anthem on king’s birthday strikes bum note

Coronavirus news

Signs of hope as hospital admissions decline, demand on intensive care eases

Coronavirus has taken Dutch healthcare hostage, says hospitals chief

Dutch see tracker apps as key to relaxing lockdown restrictions

Coronavirus apps: can we protect health without intruding on privacy?

Temporary workers are missing out on coronavirus support, say unions

Dutch football association outlines plan to resume matches in June

No football in my city: mayor of Eindhoven criticises KNVB’s plan to restart Eredivisie

Eurozone finance ministers agree ‘powerful’ €540bn rescue package

MPs back Hoekstra’s stance on eurobonds but criticise his blunt approach

Other news

Blow for Utrecht council as MPs outlaw forcing homes to scrap gas cookers

Hornbill rises up pecking order thanks to bionic beak