Europe

GENEVA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Against the backdrop of a global pandemic, steep recession, intensifying U.S-China tensions and rising protectionism, the WTO needs to name a leader. Only the resilient should apply.

Brazilian Director-General Roberto Azevedo surprised the WTO’s 164 members last week by announcing he would quit at the end of August, a year earlier than expected, adding to the tumult facing global agencies amid a backlash against globalisation.

LONDON, May 20 (APP): The United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday welcomed the agreement between Afghanistan leaders on forming an inclusive government.
A statement issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) London said.

The FCO Minister for South Asia Lord Ahmad Tariq of Wimbledon while commenting on the agreement said, “I welcome the agreement between Afghan leaders on forming an inclusive government”.

Lord Tariq said that a strong and unified government was vital at this critical time for Afghanistan.

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/: The Russian government has approved directives to extend the contract of Chief Executive Officer of Russian oil major Rosneft Igor Sechin for five more years, the Cabinet’s press service said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/: Palestine is eager to continue talks with Israel based on the principle of two states, Palestinian Ambassador to Moscow Abdel Hafiz Nofal told TASS on Wednesday, commenting on the Palestinian president’s decision to pull out of all agreements with Israel and the US.

"We are eager to continue the negotiations with the Israelis with the principle of two-state solution," he said.

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/: As many as 47 coronavirus vaccines are in the works in Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said, addressing the Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) on Wednesday.

"Detecting the coronavirus infection is an important aspect of these activities. A total of 47 vaccines are in the works on 14 platforms. We do expect that some of them will produce tangible results," she said. Golikova added that 3.1 bln rubles ($43 mln) had been allocated from the federal budget for the development of coronavirus testing systems and vaccines.

20 May 2020; MEMO: A series of Danish investigations published on Danwatch on Sunday accused the country’s largest arms manufacturer of war crimes in Yemen.

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/: The Russian Ministry of Agriculture keeps the forecast for exports of agricultural produce in the amount of $25 bln in 2020, Minister Dmitry Patrushev said on Wednesday.

"We have already supplied products worth $9.4 bln overseas in this year. This is $1.5 bln more than as of the like date of the last year. The target for 2020 is $25 bln," the minister said.

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin believes that the situation with the spread of the coronavirus in the country has been gradually stabilizing, especially in Moscow.

"In the past three days there was the lowest growth in the number of the novel coronavirus infection cases and today it is below 3% for the first time. Today is also the first day when the number of those discharged after recovering exceeds the number of new cases," Mishustin told a board meeting of the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

LUGANSK, May 20. /TASS/:The self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) will be forced to take decisive measures and change the line of contact with the Kiev-controlled territory if the Ukrainian side goes ahead with its shelling attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, LPR head Leonid Pasechnik said on Tuesday.

On May 16, a power supply line delivering electricity to critically important infrastructure facilities in LPR was damaged as a result of shelling by Kiev troops.

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/: The price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia on the global oil market may start again when prices return to the level of $50-55 a barrel, Department Director of S&P Global Ratings in Russia Alexander Gryaznov said on Wednesday.

"Some kind of a pause has been taken in this war. It is disadvantageous for both players, Saudi Arabia and Russia, to continue the price war in this situation," the expert said. "However, when the price returns to $50-55 [per barrel], I would not exclude that the struggle for markets will continue," he added.