Russian city of St. Petersburg reports spike in deaths in May amid COVID-19 outbreak
Russia’s second biggest city of St. Petersburg recorded a death rate last month 32% higher than last year, official data showed on Wednesday, suggesting that there may be more people dying of COVID-19 than are being reported.
China-EU summit in Germany postponed due to coronavirus
A summit planned for September in Leipzig, Germany, between China and the European Union has been postponed because of the coronavirus, the German government said on Wednesday.
UK, German police have new suspect in 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann
British and German police said on Wednesday they had a new suspect in the 2007 disappearance in Portugal of three-year-old Madeleine McCann and appealed for information about a German man currently imprisoned in Germany for sexual assault offences.
Palestinians snub tax handover by Israel over annexation plan
The Palestinians said on Wednesday they were rejecting taxes collected on their behalf by Israel, an escalation of measures in protest of Israel’s plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
Finland’s PM says she hopes to give birth while in office
Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin, the world’s youngest leader at 34, told a magazine she would like to have a child while in office, which would make her only the third elected head of government to give birth while in power in modern times.
UK business minister tested for COVID-19 after lawmakers return to parliament
British business minister Alok Sharma has been tested for COVID-19 after feeling unwell in parliament on Wednesday, just a day after the government required hundreds of legislators to resume voting in person.
Exclusive: U.S. to impose restrictions on additional Chinese media outlets – sources
By Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk and David Brunnstrom
Libya’s government retakes Tripoli airport ahead of possible truce talks
Libya’s internationally recognised government recaptured Tripoli’s main airport on Wednesday, all but driving an eastern commander’s forces from the capital ahead of what appeared to be moves towards talks on a truce.
Iran says coronavirus restrictions could return if second wave hits
Iran’s president warned the public on Wednesday that restrictions may have to be reimposed to fight the coronavirus if the country is hit by a second wave of infections, after authorities announced the most new cases in a day since March.
Thousands defy pandemic ban to join Stockholm protest over U.S. police violence
Thousands of people joined a demonstration in central Stockholm on Wednesday to protest against racism in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis, defying a ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people due to the pandemic.
