On fire’s anniversary, Notre-Dame’s great bell to break its silence
A year on from the inferno that gutted Notre-Dame de Paris and stunned the world, the cathedral’s great bell will ring out on Wednesday evening, as a mark of the building’s resilience and that of the medics battling France’s coronavirus epidemic.
China removes vice director of Hong Kong liaison office from post
China has removed Yang Jian, vice director of its Hong Kong liaison office from post, the state council said on Wednesday.
China urges United States to fulfil its WHO obligation
China urged the United States on Wednesday to fulfil its obligations to the World Health Organization (WHO), after U.S. President Donald Trump halted funding to the body over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Moscow brings in coronavirus travel permits, queues follow
Moscow introduced a travel permit system on Wednesday to help it police a lockdown meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, a move that initially created traffic jams and long queues of people wanting to use the metro.
‘As long as necessary’: Coronavirus holdout Palau opts for self-isolation
The Pacific island nation of Palau is one of the world’s last countries still free of the coronavirus, and it’s doing all it can to stay that way.
China’s Wuhan to fully resume rail, flight and freight ops by end-April: vice mayor
The vice mayor of Wuhan, epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in China, said on Wednesday the city aimed to fully resume rail, flight and freight operations by the end of April after a more than two-month lockdown was lifted earlier this month.
Germany arrests four men from Tajikistan suspected of planning attack
German police arrested on Wednesday four suspected members of Islamic State, all from Tajikistan, believed to have been planning deadly attacks in Germany, prosecutors said.
Philippines reports 14 new coronavirus deaths, 230 more infections
The Philippines’ health ministry on Wednesday reported 14 new coronavirus deaths and 230 additional infections.
Germany to extend coronavirus restrictions to May 3: Handelsblatt
Germany’s government will extend restrictions on movement introduced last month to slow the spread of the coronavirus until at least May 3, Handelsblatt business daily reported on Wednesday, citing the dpa news agency.
UK was too slow to act on COVID-19 initially, opposition Labour leader says
Britain was initially too slow to respond to the novel coronavirus outbreak and did not learn quickly enough from other countries, opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said on Wednesday.
