Lebanon plan based on flexible exchange rate in ‘coming period’- Finance Minister
A government plan for getting Lebanon out of a financial crisis is based on a shift to a flexible exchange rate, but in the “coming period”, and a currency peg will be maintained for now, Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said on Wednesday.
Germany to ease lockdown as Merkel hails end of first phase of pandemic
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday announced a range of steps agreed with Germany’s 16 federal state leaders to ease the coronavirus lockdown, saying the first phase of the pandemic had passed, although there was still a long way to go.
Merkel: we can be a bit bold but must be careful on easing lockdown
Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed with premiers of Germany’s 16 states to make sure local action is taken quickly to prevent individual, local, coronavirus outbreaks from spreading around the country, she said on Wednesday.
UK denies sacrificing care homes; Johnson says situation improving
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday the situation in care homes had improved, after his health minister denied Britain had prioritised hospitals over many elderly people in homes in its fight against the coronavirus outbreak.
Study suggests coronavirus spread swiftly around world in late 2019
A genetic analysis of samples from more than 7,500 people infected with COVID-19 suggests the new coronavirus spread quickly around the world late last year and is adapting to its human hosts, scientists said on Wednesday.
Bahrain eases coronavirus restrictions, shops, industries to open
Shops and industrial enterprises in Bahrain can open from Thursday while restaurants will stay closed to in-house diners, the Health Ministry said, as the Gulf state eases restrictions designed to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.
Putin warns against hurrying to lift coronavirus-related restrictions
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Russia should not rush to lift coronavirus-related restrictions, warning that any haste in removing preventative measures could undo their work so far.
Moscow mayor says coronavirus outbreak has stabilised, proposes partial reopening
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Wednesday the outbreak of the coronavirus had stabilised over the past two weeks, with the growth in cases corresponding to an increase in testing, but said self-isolation should continue.
Putin supports Moscow Mayor’s proposals on easing coronavirus lockdown
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said he supported proposals by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to gradually ease some restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
UK PM Johnson’s 200,000 daily COVID tests goal is ‘an operational target’: spokesman
A new government goal of reaching reach 200,000 tests by the end of the month announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is an operational target to increase capacity and widen its COVID-19 testing programme, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
