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.
Bolsonaro asks security forces to act if protests against his government exceed limits
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday called groups protesting in favor of democracy “terrorists” and “delinquents”, saying he had asked security forces to act if demonstrations expected on Sunday exceed limits.
Japan aims to have coronavirus vaccines in use by June 2021
Japan aims to put coronavirus vaccines into use by June 2021, the health minister said on Friday, as the country strives to be fully ready to host the Tokyo Olympics, originally planned for this summer but postponed by one year due to the pandemic.
Central African Republic court rejects bid to extend president’s mandate
Central African Republic’s constitutional court on Friday rejected changes to the constitution that would have allowed President Faustin-Archange Touadera to stay in power if an election in December is delayed due to the new coronavirus.
Laid off Hungarians turn to truck driving, carrot picking
Zoltan Wetter worked in restaurants for over two decades before the coronavirus pandemic cost him his job. With no savings, the 38-year-old chef from the town of Erd in Hungary took the first opportunity he could find: behind the wheel of a garbage tru…
Swiss to open borders to Europeans on June 15
Switzerland plans to open its borders to European Union countries, EFTA members and Britain on June 15, the government said on Friday, bringing forward its timetable as cases of the novel coronavirus ebb.
Mudslide in Arctic Norway sweeps houses into the sea
A powerful mudslide in Arctic Norway swept eight houses and the piece of land on which they stood into the sea, where they sank into swirling waters, footage posted on social media showed.
Saudi Arabia reimposes curfew in Jeddah for two weeks: SPA agency
Saudi Arabia has reimposed a curfew in the Red Sea city of Jeddah 3 p.m to 6 a.m for two weeks starting on Saturday due to the spread of the coronavirus, and suspended work in offices, state news agency SPA reported.
Finland’s finance minister steps down over training scandal
Finland’s Katri Kulmuni will step down as finance minister but continue to lead her party, she told reporters on Friday, after a magazine said she had used taxpayers’ money to fund training on how to speak in public.
Kremlin dismisses talk of ousting Nornickel President after fuel spill
The Kremlin dismissed on Friday the idea of ousting Norilsk Nickel President Vladimir Potanin after a Russian lawmaker said he should go following an Arctic fuel spill late last month.
