New York Governor Andrew Cuomo took a coronavirus test during his televised briefing, in a bid to encourage more people to take the tests.
"I’m not in pain, I’m not in discomfort," he said after a doctor, dressed in PPE, conducted the test. "Closing my eyes was a moment of relaxation. There is no reason why you should not get the test."
Cuomo urged New Yorkers to get tested if they had symptoms or were exposed to the virus.
He added that the screenings had been expanded to include those people who've returned to work, medical and nursing-home personnel.
"We just don't have enough New Yorkers coming to be tested," Cuomo said, urging more people to get screened as parts of the state reopen some non-essential activities.
So far, New York has registered more than 350,000 cases and over 22,000 deaths.
The Utah trade school student jailed on suspicion of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk faces formal charges next week, according to the governor, from an act of violence widely seen as a foreboding inflection point in US politics.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace on Saturday in Manipur state, the scene of two years of deadly ethnic violence, as he unveiled a package of development projects there worth nearly $1 billion.
European Union countries have shelved plans to approve a new climate change target next week, after pushback from governments including France and Germany over plans to quickly land a deal, three EU diplomats said on Friday.
Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved parliament and called for fresh elections on March 5, his office said late on Friday, following a week of deadly violence that culminated in the appointment of the country's first woman Prime Minister in the interim.
With the highly anticipated Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan set to take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, Dubai’s Events Security Committee (ESC) is urging fans to uphold sportsmanship and follow all safety regulations.
The first round of political consultations between the United Arab Emirates and the African Union Commission was held in Abu Dhabi on Friday, building on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019.
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy, development, investment, and renewable energy, with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Abu Dhabi on Friday.