We will hold PM Johnson to his new testing target: UK’s Labour
Britain’s main opposition Labour Party said on Wednesday it would hold Prime Minister Boris Johnson to his new pledge to increase daily testing for the novel coronavirus to 200,000 a day by the end of this month.
Pandemic boosts Palestinian PM as potential Abbas successor
One man has become the face of the Palestinians’ response to the COVID-19 crisis, and it’s not President Mahmoud Abbas.
Coronavirus spreads among Indian police enforcing world’s largest lockdown
Hundreds of Indian police have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days, raising alarm among an over-stretched force as it attempts to enforce the world’s largest lockdown to contain the pandemic.
Russia’s culture minister tests positive for coronavirus: TASS
Russia’s culture minister has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the third confirmed member of the cabinet to catch the disease, the TASS news agency reported on Wednesday.
Over 90,000 health workers infected with COVID-19 worldwide: nurses group
At least 90,000 health-care workers worldwide are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, and possibly twice that, amid reports of continuing shortages of protective equipment, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) said on Wednesday.
Israel plans thousands of new homes for West Bank settlement
Israel announced a plan for thousands of new Jewish settlement homes in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday as Washington voiced readiness to back de facto Israeli annexations there.
Lebanon plan based on flexible exchange rate in ‘coming phase’: 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 a “coming phase”, and it will continue to operate a currency peg for now, the finance minister said on Wednesday.
France’s Macron throws lockdown lifeline to culture sector
The French state will extend income support to workers from the arts and culture industry, many of whom have lost their jobs during the coronavirus lockdown, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.
Israel signs deal to lease drones to Greece for border defence
Israel said it will lease drones to Greece to defend its borders, in the first military deal between the two countries which includes an option to buy the system.
Putin’s rating dips to low, but poll shows rising support for extending rule
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating has slipped to its lowest level in more than two decades amid the coronavirus crisis, even as support for his plan to extend his rule for years ahead has risen, a poll showed on Wednesday.
