In France’s race for virus masks, old people lost out
In late February, as the COVID-19 pandemic was about to hit, French President Emmanuel Macron faced a critical decision. Like most countries, France did not have enough protective face masks.
Turkey turns to medical diplomacy to heal damaged relations
Emblazoned with Turkish flags and presidential seals, crates packed with medical equipment are loaded onto planes, part of a major aid campaign by Ankara which has dispatched supplies to dozens of countries since the new coronavirus pandemic erupted.
Coronavirus cases surge in Russia, tally now third highest globally
A new surge in coronavirus cases took Russia’s tally past those in Italy and Britain on Monday, making it the third highest in the world just hours before President Vladimir Putin was due to issue an update on the situation.
France emerges cautiously out of coronavirus lockdown
France tiptoed out of its strict coronavirus lockdown on Monday, allowing non-essential shops, factories and other businesses to reopen for the first time in eight weeks to help resuscitate the economy despite the risk of a second wave of infections.
Lesotho PM Thabane’s coalition folds, he leaves on May 22: speaker
Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s coalition fell apart in parliament on Monday, spelling the end of his tenure and paving the way toward a resolution of a political crisis that has engulfed the kingdom since late last year.
Four Tajik men accused of militant recruitment in Poland
Four Tajik men have been detained in Poland on charges of trying to recruit Muslim converts to carry out militant attacks, authorities said on Monday.
London commute is going to be very different, transport operator says
London’s commute will be very different when people start to go back to work as demand on buses and the underground railway will be reduced by 85%, the city transport operator said.
Low-skilled men suffer highest COVID fatalities in England and Wales
Men in the lowest-skilled jobs had the highest rate of death involving COVID-19 among working-age people in England and Wales, according to data on Monday which also showed deaths among nurses and doctors was no higher than the average.
China’s health authority to tighten rules on laboratory controls
China will require local health authorities to tighten their supervision over how virus strains and their samples are handled in labs, the National Health Commission said in a draft rule issued on Monday.
Second wave of COVID-19 cases sweeps Senegal’s holy city
Senegal’s holy city of Touba is fighting a second wave of COVID-19 infections, dashing hopes that swift action by authorities had stopped the new coronavirus from spreading in the one-time epicentre.
