This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Alex Ritson, and at 14 hours GMT on Wednesday,

the 4th of January, these are our main stories.

China's boosting supplies to rural health centers

amid the wave of coronavirus infections

that may soon reach the countryside.

Russia says it will hold officials accountable for mistakes

that led to the deaths of schools of servicemen

in a Ukrainian missile strike.

In South Korea, a parliamentary commission has been examining

police preparations and response to the deadly Halloween crush in Seoul.

Also in this podcast, at least eight European countries

have registered record high temperatures for January in Cuba.

Women are finally allowed to compete in international boxing.

It's a bittersweet moment for me.

I'm really happy it's happened, of course.

I'm inspired to carry on.

But at the same time, a little sad as I'd hoped it would be my fists,

my gloves, which would bring Cuba victory.

Plus, how Denmark has pulled off a whole year without experiencing a bank robbery.

It's not just China, which is hoping for COVID-19 rates to fall.

The rest of the world needs this to help the global economy avoid a major downturn.

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