Finland to offer new fathers as much paid leave as mothers
Finland’s woman-led centre-left government plans to give new fathers the same amount of paid time off work as new mothers, nearly doubling paternity leave, it announced on Wednesday.
Coronavirus evacuee plane from Wuhan arrives in New Zealand
A plane load of New Zealanders, Australians and Pacific Islanders evacuated from China’s Wuhan city arrived in New Zealand’s Auckland on Wednesday, where they will be quarantined to prevent the spread of a new flu-like coronavirus, officials said.
Hong Kong to further tighten mainland China border
Hong Kong will close two cruise terminals and will put anyone coming from mainland China into compulsory quarantine for 14 days, its leader Carrie Lam said on Wednesday.
Gaza farmers return to their lands along volatile Israeli border
Returning to his fields for the first time in 14 years, Palestinian farmer Naser Abu Isaeed surveyed the toll taken by conflict on formerly productive soil.
British scientist makes breakthrough in race for coronavirus vaccine: Sky
A leading British scientist has made a significant breakthrough in the race for a coronavirus vaccine by reducing a part of the normal development time from “two to three years to just 14 days”, Sky news reported.
Russia not considering restricting food from China over virus fears: ministry
Russia is not considering restricting the supply of food from China over coronavirus fears, the deputy head of the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday, according to Russian news agencies.
First Russians return home from Wuhan, to be quarantined for two weeks
Russia on Wednesday flew home its first group of 78 citizens from China’s Wuhan, the epicenter of a coronavirus outbreak, and plans to quarantine them for two weeks in a camp in Siberia while they are tested for the disease.
Former British PM Cameron turns down climate summit job
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron rejected an offer from the government to lead a major United Nations climate summit taking place in November.
Bodies of two U.S. firefighters killed Australia sent home
The bodies of two U.S. firefighters killed battling Australian blazes were sent home on Wednesday in emotional ceremonies attended by officials and relatives.
Former British PM Cameron’s bodyguard forgets loaded gun in plane toilet
A passenger found a loaded pistol and David Cameron’s passport in an airplane toilet after the former British prime minister’s bodyguard forgot them there, the British media reported on Wednesday.
