Special Report: U.S. rearms to nullify China’s missile supremacy
As Washington and Beijing trade barbs over the coronavirus pandemic, a longer-term struggle between the two Pacific powers is at a turning point, as the United States rolls out new weapons and strategy in a bid to close a wide missile gap with China.
Kazakhstan says spread of coronavirus has slowed
The spread of the novel coronavirus in Kazakhstan has slowed in recent days, the Central Asian nation’s government said on Wednesday, indicating it could exit a state of emergency next week.
Iran death toll from new coronavirus outbreak rises by 78 to 6,418: health ministry official
The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak in Iran rose by 78 in the past 24 hours to 6,418, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV on Wednesday.
Baltic states to create ‘travel bubble’ as pandemic curbs eased
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will open their borders to each others’ citizens from May 15, creating a Baltic “travel bubble” within the European Union amid an easing of pandemic restrictions, their prime ministers said on Wednesday.
Britain did not sacrifice care homes by prioritising hospitals: Hancock
British health minister Matt Hancock denied on Wednesday that the government had left many elderly people in care homes vulnerable to the novel coronavirus by prioritising hospitals.
As coronavirus lockdown eases, Cypriots still in limbo
Deniz Birinci had just hours to stuff her and her baby daughter’s belongings into suitcases and bin bags on March 16 before the two sides on the divided island of Cyprus imposed lockdowns to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.
Poland raises prospect of snap election in standoff over presidential vote
Poland may need to dissolve parliament and hold a snap election unless lawmakers allow a presidential vote, which the government wants to hold by postal ballot during the coronavirus crisis, the prime minister’s chief of staff said on Wednesday.
Poland must ensure free and fair presidential vote, EU says
The European Union’s executive on Wednesday said Poland must ensure “free and fair” elections, as the bloc’s largest ex-communist country is locked in a spiralling political crisis over a presidential vote due this Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating dips to low point: poll
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating slipped to 59% in April from 63% a month earlier amid the coronavirus crisis, its lowest level in more than two decades, the Levada-Center opinion pollster said on Wednesday.
Coronavirus is no excuse to exploit workers, pope says
Pope Francis said on Wednesday employers must respect the dignity of workers, particularly migrants, despite economic difficulties brought on by the coronavirus crisis.
