Russian nuclear-powered sub enters service amid arms control fears
Russia’s most-advanced new nuclear-powered submarine entered service on Friday, the defence ministry said, at a time of growing arms control tensions between Moscow and the West.
Scotland, Wales call for extension to EU status quo transition
The leaders of Scotland and Wales called on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday to extend the transition period with the European Union, saying the coronavirus crisis had made meeting the year-end deadline “extraordinarily reckless”.
U.N. regrets Trump move against ICC, says court must be protected
The U.N. human rights office on Friday regretted the impact that U.S. sanctions authorised by President Donald Trump may have on trials and investigations under way at the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying its independence must be protected.
Churchill statue and war memorial boarded up before London protests
A statue of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill opposite parliament and the Cenotaph war memorial in central London were boarded up on Friday for protection before three days of demonstrations planned in the capital.
Philippine protesters rally over controversial anti-terror bill
More than 1,000 Filipinos on Friday braved the threat of coronavirus infection to protest against a controversial new anti-terrorism bill, which is awaiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.
Four killed and “many injured” in blast in Kabul mosque: Ministry of Interior
A blast in a Kabul mosque during Friday prayers killed at least four people and wounded many more, Afghanistan’s interior ministry said on Friday.
Paris police ask shops to close due to risk of disorder at Saturday protest
The Paris police department said it had called for shops and businesses in districts from Republique to Opera to close on Saturday due to risks of public disorder at a demonstration.
Hong Kong, China governments reject UK ‘interference’ and ‘biased’ criticism
The Hong Kong government and China’s foreign ministry branch in the city hit back on Friday at a report by Britain criticising Beijing’s plans for national security legislation, saying it was “biased” and intervened in internal affairs.
EU experts see some risk of return to lockdown in COVID-19 second wave
The risk of a second wave of COVID-19 infections big enough to require European lockdowns to be reimposed is moderate to high, EU health experts said on Friday, and depends on the gradual easing of restrictions and how people stick to them.
India’s Mumbai braces for monsoon diseases amid strain of a pandemic
For doctors and healthcare workers in India’s financial capital Mumbai who are grappling with surging coronavirus infections, the onset of the annual monsoon poses a serious threat – a new wave of patients with vector-borne diseases.
