Putin strongly backed in controversial Russian reform vote
Nearly 78% of Russian voters backed constitutional reforms that could keep President Vladimir Putin in power until 2036, election officials say. With all the ballots counted, 77.9% voted for the reform package and 21.3% against, the electoral commission said. The reforms will reset Mr Putin’s...
Germany’s Angela Merkel urges EU leaders to agree on pandemic recovery plan
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the coronavirus pandemic has deepened inequality within the European Union (EU) and has called on member states to agree on an economic recovery package before the end of July. Speaking in Germany’s lower house of parliament — the Bundestag —...
PM to welcome Macron for Resistance anniversary
Four French Resistance fighters will be awarded honorary MBEs for their role in World War Two as Boris Johnson welcomes Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street. The French president is visiting London on Thursday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of wartime leader Charles de Gaulle’s BBC...
UK Foreign Secretary says he has “full respect” for Black Lives Matter movement after linking “taking the knee” to Game of Thrones
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says he has “full respect” for the Black Lives Matter movement, after earlier saying that “taking the knee” felt more like a symbol of subjugation than liberation. “I have full respect for the Black Lives Matter movement, and the issues...
It’s just past 1 p.m. in London and 8 a.m. in New York. Here’s the latest on the pandemic.
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 8 million people worldwide and killed at least 437,000. Here’s what you need to know: Beijing extends lockdowns as coronavirus spreads: Health officials in China’s capital have disinfected more than 30,000 restaurants and sealed off several residential neighbourhoods as...
Spain tests out Covid-19 precautions for schools reopening in September
Most of Spain’s schools will remain closed until September but the country is trying out a new normal for some students ahead of the autumn. The Colegio Virgen de Europa in Madrid is one of the few schools opening their doors to pupils — with...
It’s just past 8 a.m. in London and 7 p.m. in Wellington, New Zealand. Here’s the latest
Global coronavirus cases have now surpassed 8 million, including more than 436,000 deaths. If you’re just joining us, here are the latest developments. China races to contain new cluster: At least 29 neighborhoods are under lockdown in Beijing as 106 Covid-19 cases linked to the...
French police clash with anti-racism activists
French police have clashed with demonstrators during a protest in Paris against racism and police brutality. Police used tear gas against stone-throwing protesters who tried to hold a march that was banned. The rally is part is a worldwide movement inspired by America’s Black Lives...
India overtakes the UK to become fourth worst affected country from Covid-19
India reported 10,956 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day increase and the first time the numbers have risen by more 10,000. The total number of reported coronavirus infections now stands at 297,535 with 8,498 deaths, according to India’s Ministry of Health...
Italian PM questioned by prosecutor of Bergamo — the area hardest hit by coronavirus
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has been questioned by the prosecutor of Bergamo, Lombardy, on the outbreak of coronavirus in the region. The prosecutor arrived Friday morning at Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Italian government, to question Conte as an “informed person on the...
Coronavirus mutations not expected to influence vaccine efficacy, WHO chief scientist says
All viruses mutate — including the novel coronavirus. But as the world now races to develop a Covid-19 vaccine, the coronavirus mutations are not expected to alter vaccine efficacy during this race, said World Health Organization chief scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan. “The mutations have not...
Paris police urge businesses to take precautions ahead of planned protests
Police in Paris have urged businesses in central parts of the city to secure any items that could be used as missiles or weapons ahead of Saturday’s planned protests. In a statement, police said businesses, bars and restaurants at Place de la République and Place...
Boris Johnson slams risk of attack to Winston Churchill statue as “absurd and shameful”
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said it is “absurd and shameful” that a central London statue of Winston Churchill is at risk of attack by “violent” protesters, as he urged people not to join future demonstrations. The statue of the wartime leader, which sits...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
“Uncertainties” surround next year’s Olympics, says Tokyo governor
The fate of next year’s Olympic Games depends on Japan’s handling of the coronavirus, according to the Tokyo governor. Gov. Yuriko Koike said the Games could signify a “victory” over the pandemic, but admitted that more work is still needed to improve treatment and testing,...
London Mayor urges Black Lives Matter protesters to follow social distancing measures
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Black Lives Matter protesters to keep 2 meters (6 feet) apart and wear a face covering ahead of a planned demonstration in the city’s central Trafalgar Square on Friday. “We understand why people want to protest and make clear...
Coronavirus: AstraZeneca to begin making potential vaccine
Drug company AstraZeneca is to start producing a potential vaccine for coronavirus, its boss has told the BBC. Trials of the drug are under way but Pascal Soriot said the firm must start making doses now so that it can meet demand if the vaccine...
Global Vaccine Summit attempts to coordinate COVID-19 inoculation efforts
A global summit, hosted in the UK but attended by heads of governments and business leaders via Zoom, is aiming to raise $7.4 billion (€6.60 billion) in funding for vaccine programmes for the years to come. In the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, the Global...
Israeli parliament suspends activities after MP tests positive
Israel’s parliament has suspended most of its activities for the day after a lawmaker tested positive for coronavirus. Staff at the Knesset have been asked not to come into work unless it is essential, while committee meetings have been postponed. The infected lawmaker, Sami Abou...
The latest from Europe
Germany announces a massive economic stimulus while Austria reopens its borders – but not to Italy. Here’s the latest from Europe: After marathon talks with coalition partners, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel unveiled a €130 billion ($146bn; £116bn) economic recovery package, including a cut in VAT...
Pope calls death of George Floyd “tragic” and says racism is a sin
Pope Francis spoke out on Wednesday morning in the Vatican about the “tragic” death of George Floyd. Speaking at his weekly Angelus prayer, the Pope said, “Dear brothers and sisters in the United States, I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in...
Kremlin: Trump, Putin did not discuss US unrest in phone call
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not discuss the unrest sweeping the US in a phone call Monday. Asked in a conference call with reporters if the issue was raised during the conversation, Peskov said:...
George Floyd’s death is “abuse of power,” says top EU diplomat
George Floyd’s death was an abuse of power and must be renounced, a top EU diplomat said at a briefing in Belgium. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union, said all societies should remain vigilant against the use of excess force and deal with...
‘I have coronavirus’: Armenian PM tests positive as pandemic tightens grip on the country
Armenia’s prime minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Monday (June 1) that he had contracted COVID-19. “My coronavirus test was positive yesterday. All of my family members are also positive,” Pachinian said in a video posted on his Facebook page. The prime minister, who has a...