Lebanon protests escalate as currency dives
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in cities across Lebanon amid escalating protests as the country faces a collapse in its currency. Anger has surged as the Lebanese pound tumbled to record lows, having lost 70% of its value since October. The prime...
Coronavirus: Fracas on Brazil’s Copacabana over Covid-19 ‘graves’
Activists angry at Brazil’s response to Covid-19 have created 100 graves on Rio’s Copacabana beach to remember the more than 40,000 people who have died. However, organisers said supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro mocked the event with one man pulling out crosses. The president’s opposition...
Coronavirus: Italy prosecutors quiz PM Conte on crisis
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is being questioned by prosecutors from northern Italy after relatives of Covid-19 victims demanded an inquiry into alleged government negligence. The prosecutors have travelled to Rome from Bergamo, the city near Milan worst hit by coronavirus before the whole country was...
Coronavirus: Why does India deny Covid community transmission?
Despite a surge in cases, India insists there is no community transmission of Covid-19 in the country. “India is such a large country and prevalence is very low,” said Balram Bhargava, head of the Indian Medical Research Institute. Mr Bhargava was speaking at a press...
Hong Kong: City of two masks faces a new crisis
One year ago, black-clad youth of Hong Kong gathered outside parliament. Bricks and projectiles met rubber bullets and tear gas. Many protests and one pandemic later, the territory is facing another existential challenge. Will it survive? In the past 12 months, almost everyone in Hong...
Syria war: Assad sacks PM as economic crisis sparks protests
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has sacked Prime Minister Imad Khamis, as he struggles with a worsening economic crisis that has triggered protests. State media did not give a reason for the decision to replace Mr Khamis, who had been prime minister since 2016. But it...
In India’s richest city, hospitals are overrun and doctors are collapsing
India’s richest city is buckling under the weight of the coronavirus crisis. Mumbai is considered the country’s financial and entertainment capital, home to international businesses and the glamorous world of Bollywood. But it’s also a transport hub with a dense population and dramatic wealth inequality...
Russia surpasses 500,000 coronavirus cases
Russia reported 8,779 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the total number of recorded infections to 502,436, according to the country’s coronavirus response headquarters. Over the past 24 hours, 174 people have died, taking the overall official toll to 6,532. Observers have cast doubt...
The coronavirus is still surging in Latin America and the Caribbean, which have surpassed 70,000 deaths
Latin America and the Caribbean have now recorded more than 70,000 deaths due to Covid-19. Several countries in the region are struggling to contain the outbreak — most notably Brazil, which has identified more than 772,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University (second only to...
As business reopen in Los Angeles, the county is still seeing an average of 1,300 new coronavirus each day
Los Angeles County is allowing some businesses, including gyms and museums, to reopen, but authorities say they are still seeing about 1,300 new coronavirus cases a day. There are 67,064 confirmed coronavirus cases and 2,768 deaths in Los Angeles County. At a press conference Wednesday,...
George Floyd’s brother testified before Congress yesterday. Here’s what he said.
Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, appeared yesterday before the House Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing on policing and law enforcement accountability. He told House lawmakers yesterday that his brother “didn’t deserve to die over $20,” and called for police accountability and reform. Here are...
George Floyd’s brother talks about his Congressional testimony on CNN
Philonese Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, joined CNN to discuss his testimony today in the US House of Representatives. Floyd said he went to Capitol Hill because he “wanted to let them know about how the officer put his knee on my brother’s neck, and how...
Police in Australia say Black Lives Matter protesters could face arrest
Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have warned Black Lives Matter protesters they could face potential arrest if they participate in “unauthorized gatherings.” Rallies in support of Black Lives Matter and Australia’s Aboriginal Lives Matter movement are planned to take place...
Top health officials monitor nationwide protests, fearing coronavirus may spread
Health officials have raised concern about the spread of coronavirus, as thousands of people brave the pandemic to participate in national protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Sunday it was closely monitoring demonstrations...
Armenian PM returns to work after coronavirus
Armenia’s Prime Minister has returned to work after being diagnosed with coronavirus, his press officer has told CNN. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan started working from home early last week “The Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, his spouse, Anna Hakobyan, and three of their children have been...
Coronavirus: Hundreds of Polish infections linked to mine
A single coal mine in Poland’s Upper Silesia region is behind a record spike in the country’s confirmed coronavirus cases, the health ministry says. Over the weekend 1,151 new infections were recorded nationally. An outbreak among miners and their families at the Zofiowka colliery in...
George Floyd: Minneapolis council pledges to dismantle police department
A majority of Minneapolis City Council has pledged to dismantle the local police department, a significant move amid nationwide protests sparked by George Floyd’s death last month. Nine of the 13 councillors said a “new model of public safety” would be created in a city...
Trump ‘drifted away’ from constitution, says ex-military chief Colin Powell
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell has strongly criticised President Donald Trump’s handling of anti-racism protests, saying he has “drifted away” from the constitution. The Republican, a former top military officer, is the latest to condemn Mr Trump’s response, including his threats to use...
Coronavirus: Hard-hit Brazil removes data amid rising death toll
Brazil has removed months of data on Covid-19 from a government website amid criticism of President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the outbreak. The health ministry said it would now only be reporting cases and deaths in the past 24 hours, no longer giving a total...
Huawei launches media blitz as UK weighs its role in 5G networks
Huawei is launching a newspaper and internet campaign to mark 20 years of business in the UK. In an open letter to the public, the Chinese telecoms company says it is “as committed as ever” to provide “the best equipment” to the UK’s 5G mobile...
Coronavirus: New UK travel quarantine rules a stunt, says Ryanair boss
New rules requiring all people arriving in the UK to self-isolate for 14 days have come into effect. Those arriving by plane, ferry or train – including UK nationals – must give an address where they will self-isolate. Rule breakers will be fined. Home Secretary...
Boris Johnson: Anti-racism protests ‘subverted by thuggery’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said anti-racism protests at the weekend were “subverted by thuggery” after some demonstrators clashed with police. He said people had the right to protest but engaging in violence was a “betrayal” to the protesters’ cause. Thousands of people attended largely...
Afghans condemn Iran police after refugees die in car fire
The deaths of three Afghan refugees in a car fire in Iran has prompted an outpouring of anger towards police there, after it emerged the blaze began when officers shot at the vehicle. Another four were injured, including a boy seen begging “Give me some...
Palestinian autistic man’s killing a ‘tragedy’ says Israeli PM
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the killing of an autistic Palestinian man by Israeli police last month as a “tragedy”. Iyad Halaq, 32, was shot in occupied East Jerusalem as he walked to his special needs school on 30 May. Police said officers suspected...
Ramaphosa urges SA not to be alarmed at coronavirus rise
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans not to be scared by the rising numbers of coronavirus cases. The country has recorded more than half of the current total number of cases in the last two weeks. The president in his weekly newsletter...
South Sudan vice-president recovers from Covid-19
South Sudan’s First Vice-President Riek Machar and his wife, Defence Minister Angelina Teny, have recovered from Covid-19, local media report. The two tested positive for coronavirus three weeks ago. The Sudan Tribune newspaper quoted a statement from Mr Machar’s office as saying that he had...
Nigeria army base ‘attack leaves six soldiers dead’
Islamist jihadists have killed six Nigerian soldiers in an attack on a military base in the north-east, the AFP news agency reports. Army sources told the French news agency that they used trucks fitted with machine guns to attack the facility near Maiduguri on Saturday....
Compulsory quarantine on entry relaxed for bosses at 480 listed companies in Hong Kong
Directors and executives of around 480 listed companies can apply for exemption from the 14-day compulsory quarantine when arriving in Hong Kong from mainland China, according to a government statement issued on Monday morning. Companies can start to apply for the exemption from Monday. Companies...
Delhi’s Chief Minister in isolation after showing Covid-19 symptoms
Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went into self-isolation on Monday at his official residence in New Delhi after showing coronavirus symptoms. Spokesman Sanjay Singh said the Chief Minister had been complaining of a fever, cough, cold and sore throat since Sunday evening. The 51-year-old chief...
China says US senator’s accusations of vaccine sabotage are “slandering and smearing” China
China’s Foreign Ministry has called on US Senator Rick Scott to “produce the evidence” after he accused China of trying to “sabotage” US vaccine efforts. “The Senator claims there is evidence showing China is sabotaging and slowing down Western countries’ [vaccine] efforts, I hope he...
