Finland’s finance minister steps down over training payments
Katri Kulmuni will step down as Finland’s finance minister but continue to lead her party after admitting on Friday that she had used taxpayers’ money to fund training on how to speak in public.
South Africa’s COVID-19 cases rise and president worries about Cape Town region
Even as South Africa eases its coronavirus lockdown, infection numbers have started to rise quickly and President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday he was particularly concerned about the province around Cape Town.
Hong Kong’s last British governor likens city’s democrats to Mandela, King
The last British colonial governor of Hong Kong said the city’s democrats are on the same side of history as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, and blamed Chinese President Xi Jinping for “tightening the screws” on the city’s freedoms.
Biplane fliers enjoy exploring lockdown London by air
Biplane fliers are enjoying spectacular views of the Millennium Dome, the towering Canary Wharf financial district and the Thames Barrier for the first time as the COVID-19 lockdown frees up airspace over London for aviation enthusiasts.
West Libya forces seize last LNA stronghold near capital
Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognised government captured the last major stronghold of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar near Tripoli on Friday, capping the sudden collapse of his 14-month offensive on the capital.
Putin chides Nornickel, orders law change after Arctic fuel spill
Russian President Vladimir Putin chided the billionaire boss of Norilsk Nickel on Friday over a huge Arctic fuel spill and ordered changes to the law to try to prevent such a disaster from happening again.
Palace of Versailles to reopen, but will visitors come?
France’s sumptuous Palace of Versailles, built in the 17th century by the “Sun King” Louis XIV, throws its doors open to the public again on Saturday but with little certainty over when tourists will return as lockdown curbs are slowly eased.
Iranian foreign minister challenges Trump to return to nuclear deal
Seizing on Donald Trump’s conciliatory tone after Tehran released an American Navy veteran, Iran’s foreign minister challenged the U.S. president on Friday to return to the nuclear deal that Washington abandoned two years ago.
UK official says need to work intensively with EU into July on trade deal
Britain needs to work intensively into July with the EU to make progress in trade talks, and negotiations cannot drag on into October, a senior British negotiating official said on Friday.
Brexit free trade talks yield ‘no significant progress’ as deadline nears
European Union and British negotiators said on Friday there had been very little progress in their latest round of talks about a Brexit free trade agreement, with just weeks left to extend a year-end deadline to reach a deal.
