Israel’s Netanyahu, Gantz fail to reach unity deal, deadlock persists
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz failed to strike a unity government deal in last-ditch talks late on Wednesday.
As Brazil’s COVID-19 testing lags, available labs go unused
Despite Brazil’s backlog of more than 90,000 specimens awaiting coronavirus testing and a rising death toll, laboratories are idle due to a lack of materials, the agriculture ministry said.
U.S. Navy says Iran Revolutionary Guards navy harassed its vessels in Gulf
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels approached U.S. Navy vessels on Wednesday in a “dangerous and harassing” manner, the U.S. Navy said in a statement.
Iranian vessels come dangerously close to U.S. military ships
Eleven vessels from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came dangerously close to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, calling the moves “dangerous and provocative.”
China may have conducted low-level nuclear test blasts, U.S. says
China may have secretly set off low-level underground nuclear test explosions despite claiming to observe an international pact banning such blasts, the U.S. State Department said in a report on Wednesday that could fuel U.S.-Chinese tensions.
Hong Kong? Bushfires? What’s been happening on the biggest non-coronavirus stories of the year
The year started with protests, bushfires and a missile strike.
Iran detained Hong Kong-flagged ship before letting it sail: sources
A Hong Kong-flagged tanker was briefly detained in Iran before being freed after armed Iranian guards in speedboats directed the vessel into its waters while it was sailing through the Gulf of Oman, maritime security sources said on Wednesday.
Brazil health minister does not accept the resignation of key lieutenant
Brazilian Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said on Wednesday he did not accept the resignation of a key health official helping lead efforts to combat the spread of the new coronavirus outbreak.
Libya’s internationally recognized government imposes 24-hour curfew for 10 days from April 17
Libya’s internationally recognized government, in the west, imposed a 24-hour curfew for 10 days effective from Friday, April 17, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) said in a statement.
WHO regrets Trump funding halt as global coronavirus cases top 2 million
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday he regrets U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pull funding for the agency, but that now is the time for the world to unite in its fight against the new coronavirus.
