UK minister apologises for misnaming soccer star Rashford, citing Harry Potter confusion
Health minister Matt Hancock apologised on Wednesday to England soccer player Marcus Rashford for getting his name wrong, suggesting that confusion with the star of the Harry Potter films was behind the slip-up.
UK’s Labour says will hold government to promise of EU deal by year-end
Britain’s opposition Labour Party will hold Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government to its promise of securing a free trade deal with the European Union by the end of the year, the spokesman for its leader Keir Starmer said on Wednesday.
India says Chinese move to build structure in its territory led to clashes
India’s foreign minister spoke to a top Chinese diplomat on Wednesday to protest against what he said was an attempt to erect a structure in Indian-controlled territory that had led to border clashes, the Indian foreign ministry said.
Germany’s SPD want Scholz as chancellor candidate: report
Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) will ask Finance Minister Olaf Scholz to be their chancellor candidate in an election next year when conservative Angela Merkel’s fourth and last term ends, Die Zeit newspaper reported on Wednesday citing sources in the…
Japan mulls resubmitting legislation to raise retirement age of civil servants
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government will consider resubmitting legislation to raise the retirement age for civil servants, its top spokesman said on Wednesday, after public backlash prompted the withdrawal of draft legislation.
God and money: Putin offers sweeteners to ease path to prolonging power
When Russians vote this month on whether to allow President Vladimir Putin to potentially stay in power until 2036, they will decide on a bundle of measures from economic sweeteners to political reforms for traditionalists.
Special Report: The pub and the pandemic – Regulars, suppliers, owner adrift in lockdown
When the Greenwich Pensioner was built in 1827, the girl who would become Queen Victoria was 8 years old and John Quincy Adams was serving as the sixth president of the United States.
India, China want peace but blame each other after deadly border clash
India and China said they wanted peace but blamed each other on Wednesday after soldiers of the two sides savagely fought each other with nail-studded clubs and stones on their Himalayan border, killing at least 20 Indian troops.
French court finds Bashar al-Assad’s uncle guilty over property fraud
The uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was found guilty of acquiring millions of euros worth of French property using funds diverted from the Syrian state and sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday.
Turkey still blocking defence plans for Poland, Baltics, say NATO allies
Turkey continues to block NATO defence plans for Poland and Baltic states despite a deal in London last year between Turkey’s president and allied leaders, three allied diplomats and a French defence official said on Wednesday.
