Moscow, Russia | AFP | Ineta Akhtyamova’s husband flew into a rage in late April, about a month into Moscow’s coronavirus lockdown. She was preparing a meal in the small apartment she shares with her partner when he exploded, calling her names, hitting her and shouting at her to get out. …
Read More »Russian medics ask where Putin’s virus bonuses went
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Maria, a 24-year-old doctor working outside Moscow, expected to be paid extra if one of her patients tested positive for the coronavirus. Instead, her salary shrank. In a small town 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the capital, she visits patients at home and normally has around …
Read More »Egypt leverages ‘soft power’ through medical aid in pandemic
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | A slickly produced video from the office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi showed crates of medical supplies — stamped in English and Arabic with the words “from the Egyptian people to the American people” — being loaded onto a military cargo plane. The dramatically scored …
Read More »As countries begin reopening, US virus expert warns of dangers
Washington, United States | AFP | France began reopening schools on Tuesday and Russia and India started getting back to work as the top US infectious disease expert warned that relaxing coronavirus lockdowns too quickly could have serious consequences. Government immunologist Anthony Fauci’s stark words fed concerns that even a cautious …
Read More »Putin lifts Russia’s coronavirus ‘non-working’ period from Tuesday
Moscow, Russia | AFP | President Vladimir Putin on Monday said Russia’s non-working period imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus will be lifted from Tuesday. “Starting from tomorrow, May 12, the national period of non-working days will be over for all sectors of the economy,” Putin said, adding that Russia’s regions will be …
Read More »Coronavirus deals ‘powerful blow’ to Putin’s grand plans
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The bombastic military parade through Moscow’s Red Square on Saturday was slated to be the spectacle of the year on the Kremlin’s calendar. Standing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron, President Vladimir Putin would have overseen a 90-minute procession of Russia’s military …
Read More »Russia debates lockdown withdrawal as virus cases reach new highs
Moscow, Russia | AFP | President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday chaired a meeting to discuss a gradual withdrawal from lockdown as Russia registered the world’s sixth highest total number of coronavirus cases. Russia recorded more than 10,000 new cases for the fourth day in a row, bringing the total number of …
Read More »Virus cases pass 145,000 in new European blackspot Russia
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia registered a near record in new daily coronavirus cases on Monday as total infections topped 145,000, cementing its position as the European country reporting the most new cases. Health officials said there were 10,581 new infections over the last 24 hours, only 52 fewer than …
Read More »US registers millionth case as pandemic lockdowns ease
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States on Tuesday recorded its one-millionth coronavirus case as countries including Spain, Russia and Nigeria took tentative steps back towards normal life by preparing to reopen some businesses. Excitement over partial easing of the lockdowns affecting more than half of humanity has been tempered …
Read More »Coronavirus pandemic ‘amplifies press freedom threats’
Paris, France | AFP | The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating threats to press freedom around the world, with authoritarian states including China and Iran suppressing details of the outbreak, activists said on Tuesday. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its annual press freedom rankings the pandemic was “highlighting and amplifying the …
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