From Israel to Russia, these are the must-read stories you need to pay attention to this week

Developments such as what annexation would mean for the West Bank, or whether to keep Vladimir Putin in power till 2036, are well worth keeping an eye on in the coming weeks, writes Gemma Fox

Putin is not alone among leaders trying to portray the pandemic as a fading threat (Getty)

The coronavirus and global lockdowns are still dominating the front pages – but there are some important developments that readers should be sure they don’t miss.

Today (Wednesday), Israel may start the process of annexing the West Bank, Russians vote on whether to keep Vladimir Putin in power till 2036, and demonstrations are expected in Hong Kong against the passing of the new security law.

The controversial annexation plan is a story that Bel Trew, our Middle East correspondent, has been following since the get-go, ensuring that we consistently deliver informed reporting on this complex and sensitive issue. On Tuesday, she wrote an in-depth piece explaining what annexation would mean for the West Bank and how the world has been reacting. This follows up from her piece last month, in which she spoke to Palestinians living in the strategic area who are fearful for their future.

Meanwhile in Russia, Putin is determined to keep headlines away from the government’s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis. For the past week, citizens have been voting in a “referendum” on constitutional changes, which if approved, could see the strongman stay in power until 2036. Having been based in the post-Soviet space for more than a decade and expert in his field, Oliver Carroll wrote a curtain-raiser on the vote and an explainer on why this is more than just a Putin power grab. We will also be running a piece today once exit polls are in.

The reaction to China passing a new national security law is another story that I will be watching closely. Hong Kong has been rocked by mass protests for more than a year and Tuesday’s passing of the “sweeping and ill-defined law” could bring many demonstrators to the streets today. But the police have not given permission for the protest to go ahead and any action is likely to be met with clashes and arrests. Adam Withnall, our Delhi-based Asia editor, will be providing you with all of the latest developments, speaking to some of Hong Kong’s most prominent activists who say the new law represents a death knell for the pro-democracy movements.

Yours,

Gemma Fox

Acting international editor