Putin says fourth minister had coronavirus after cases pass 250,000
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia’s education minister had caught the new coronavirus, making him at least the sixth senior official to be swept up in the pandemic that has officially infected more than 250,000 people nationwide.
France says it will take reciprocal steps if Spain quarantines its visitors
France will impose reciprocal quarantine measures on travellers coming from Spain after Spanish authorities’ decided to impose a 10-day quarantine on travellers from France, an official at the French presidential palace said on Thursday.
As lockdown hurts, desperate Venezuelans turn to cow blood soup
Since Venezuela went into its coronavirus lockdown, dozens of needy people have been lining up at a slaughterhouse in the western town of San Cristobal to pick up the only protein they can find for free: cattle blood.
Italy’s daily coronavirus death toll and new cases climb
Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 262 on Thursday, against 195 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new cases rose to 992 from 888 on Wednesday.
China calls U.S. accusation of hacking in COVID-19 research “slander”
China’s foreign ministry, asked about China-linked hackers breaking into U.S. COVID-19 research, said China opposed what it called slander from the United States.
Croatia plans to dissolve parliament on May 18 ahead of election: PM
The Croatian government has proposed that parliament dissolve itself on May 18 ahead of an election in late June or early July, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday.
Taps run dry in Kenya’s capital as coronavirus spreads
Rachel Wanjiru was already struggling to get enough water to wash her children’s hands during the coronavirus lockdown – then a landslide knocked out the supply near her home in Nairobi’s Kangemi slum.
Palestinian hits Israeli soldier in car-ramming and is shot dead: military
An Israeli soldier shot dead a Palestinian on Thursday who drove deliberately at high speed towards troops in the occupied West Bank, injuring one of them, the military said.
Booking apps and electronic tags? Italy’s beaches seek to salvage summer
Visitors to Italy’s famous beaches could be in for a surprise this summer. Umbrellas will be spaced far apart, hand gel will be readily available and even electronic tagging and booking systems have been proposed.
Yemen warring parties make ‘significant progress’ on truce: U.N.
The warring parties in Yemen have made “significant progress” toward agreeing a ceasefire, U.N. Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Thursday.
