It was written by Noeleen Heyzer. SINGAPORE — Singapore now has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, at 11,178, as of April 23. The daily coronavirus infection rate reached a new ... ( read original story ...)
Singapore Sees Second Wave of Coronavirus With 900 New Cases
Singapore recorded nearly 900 new coronavirus cases on Friday as the country sees a second wave of an outbreak centered around foreign workers. The country's Ministry of Health reported 897 new cases ... ( read original story ...)
Lebanon edges further from dollar peg with wire transfer rate
Lebanon edged further away from its long-held dollar currency peg on Friday as the central bank set an exchange rate for wire transfers that was 58% below the battered Lebanese pound's official price. ( read original story ...)
Israel further eases virus measures for shops, restaurants
The Israeli government Friday approved new steps to ease its lockdown measures for retail and service businesses, in the hope of reinvigorating the collapsing economy. While malls will remain closed, ... ( read original story ...)
UN, EU warn Israel against West Bank annexation
UN's Middle East envoy says move would be 'devastating' to a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United Nations and the European Union warned Israel not to annex parts of the ... ( read original story ...)
WHO role in Tajikistan’s coronavirus-free narrative under scrutiny
The office of the World Health Organization in Tajikistan, where the government maintains it has recorded no cases of COVID-19 despite a mounting number of mysterious deaths, has declined to respond ... ( read original story ...)
Azerbaijan and Georgia to start lifting coronavirus restrictions from Monday
Azerbaijan and Georgia plan to start lifting coronavirus-related restrictions from April 27, their governments said on Friday. ( read original story ...)
Saudi-led coalition extends unilateral Yemen ceasefire by a month
The Saudi-led coalition has extended a unilateral ceasefire in Yemen by one month to support efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic, even as fighting persists in the war-torn country. The move ... ( read original story ...)
Saudi Arabia eliminates flogging as form of punishment: document
Saudi Arabia eliminated flogging as a form of punishment, according to a document from the kingdom's top court seen by Reuters on Friday. ( read original story ...)
Saudi Arabia: Prominent human rights activist ‘dies in jail’
Human rights groups had long called for his release. Saudi Arabia, widely criticised for its intolerance of dissent, has not commented on the reports. Dr al-Hamid, 69, and another activist, Mohammed ... ( read original story ...)