The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, negotiated a right to annex parts of the West Bank from 1 July in the coalition deal that he signed with Benny Gantz's Kahol Lavan party. The unity government agreed between the two men was due to be sworn in on Thursday.

The leaders from Orthodox, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic Churches also called on the United States, Russia, the EU, and the UN to respond to the annexation plans with a peace initiative.

Over 700,000 believers have attended the mass conducted by dozens of Bishops and hundreds of priests from all over the world. Some pilgrims walk on foot from their home parishes in Uganda and neighboring countries to the shrine as a sign of solidarity.

One of those who has been on the committee to organize this year's celebrations, the Rev. James Okurut said that the function had to be called owing to fears that the virus would spread.

Of the approximately 17,000 Catholic parishes in the country, about 10,000 applied for PPP loans in the first round of lending, according to Pat Markey, executive director of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference. Of those, 6,000 had their applications approved. About 3,000 additional parishes have been notified that their applications were accepted in the second round, Markey says.

2. CARE FOR THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL
We thank the health personnel for their effort and resilience in management of this pandemic. We continue to pray for all of you; for God's protection and wisdom as you take care of the infected and affected. We urge the health providers to resolve their remuneration issues with the Government at national and county levels in manner that is not going to disrupt COVID 19 management. We commend the ongoing testing efforts by the government.