France’s bookstores fight for survival after coronavirus lockdown
Neighbourhood bookstores in France survived the television and later the advent of online shopping. Then came the coronavirus lockdown, an eight-week-long hiatus that has weighed heavily on profit margins and threatens the survival of some stores.
Nigeria’s president appoints ex-U.N. diplomat chief of staff
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ibrahim Gambari as his new chief of staff, secretary to the government said on Wednesday.
UK PM Johnson says 275 health and social care workers have died from COVID-19
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that the deaths of 144 health care workers and 131 social care workers had been reported as involving COVID-19.
Spain plans keeping borders closed until July: government sources
Spanish authorities are planning to keep borders closed to most travellers from abroad until July, two foreign ministry sources said on Wednesday, in a move to try and avoid a second wave of contagion from the coronavirus.
UK voters more critical of government over COVID: poll
Support for the British government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis has fallen, leading to a drop in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s standing in the eyes of voters, a survey showed on Wednesday.
Cambodian official says human rights ‘need to be put aside’ in drug war
A Cambodian official on Wednesday defended an anti-drug campaign that has been decried as rife with abuses, saying human rights “need to be put aside” to fight drugs that destroy families and fuel violent crime.
Chinese lab boosts Serbia’s coronavirus testing capacity
(This May 12 story corrects Chinese name of lab to Huo-Yan, not Huo-Yun)
Russia suspends use of ventilator type sent to U.S. after fatal fires
Russia on Wednesday suspended the use of some Russian-made medical ventilators after two fatal hospital fires reported to involve the machines, a setback in its fight against the novel coronavirus.
Poland’s Senate says in no hurry to review rules on election voting procedures
Poland’s upper house of parliament will take however much time it need to review legislation for voting procedures in the country’s upcoming presidential election, the Senate speaker said.
Canada-U.S. border to stay closed to non-essential travel until June 21: Globe and Mail
The Canada-U.S. border is expected to stay closed to non-essential travel until June 21, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported on Wednesday.
