Italy arrests Sicily’s coronavirus tsar on corruption charge
Sicily’s coronavirus emergency coordinator was arrested along with nine other people on Thursday on suspicion of corruption and rigging of health sector tenders while in his previous role, police on the Italian island said.
UK, U.S. defence ministers discuss ‘disinformation’ from Russia, China
Britain’s defence minister Ben Wallace and his U.S. counterpart Mark Esper discussed the need to tackle disinformation coming from Russia and China on Thursday, the British government said.
Palestinians shun CIA after declaring end to security coordination with U.S. and Israel
The Palestinians have suspended contacts with the CIA after announcing an end to security coordination with Israel and the United States in protest at Israeli proposals to annex territory in the West Bank, a Palestinian official said on Thursday.
Singapore’s health ministry confirms 448 new coronavirus cases, one more death
Singapore’s health ministry said on Thursday it confirmed another 448 coronavirus cases, taking the city-state’s tally of infections to 29,812.
U.S. says pulling out of Open Skies treaty, citing Russian violations
The United States announced its intention to withdraw from the 35-nation Open Skies treaty that permits unarmed aerial surveillance flights over participating countries, saying Russia has repeatedly violated the pact’s terms.
India says China hindered Indian border patrols in latest flare-up
India said on Thursday that Chinese troops had stood in the way of regular Indian patrols along their disputed border in flare-ups at two locations this month and called for stability on the front line.
China says safeguarding national security serves Hong Kong’s interests
Safeguarding national security serves the fundamental interests of all Chinese and Hong Kong, the spokesman for China’s parliament said on Thursday.
Austria plans heavy virus testing of hotel staff to reassure tourists
Austria plans a hefty expansion of its coronavirus testing just to screen hotel staff, in the hope of luring Germans and other tourists this summer and banishing the uncomfortable memory of a massive outbreak at a fashionable ski resort.
Hungary tightens asylum rules as it ends migrant detention zones
Hungary shut so-called migrant transit zones on its borders on Thursday, freeing some 300 refugees from prison-like conditions while at the same time hardening rules which will effectively bar future asylum applicants.
U.S. returns migrant children despite risks worsened by coronavirus: UNICEF
The United States has returned at least 1,000 unaccompanied migrant children to Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras since early March despite risks of violence and discrimination that have worsened because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Unite…
