UK COVID-19 death toll nears 43,000 as scrutiny over strategy grows
The United Kingdom’s COVID-19 death toll has reached nearly 43,000, underlining the country’s status as the worst-hit in Europe and raising more questions about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s handling of the crisis.
Syria’s warring parties agree to Geneva talks: U.N. envoy
Opposing sides in the Syrian civil war have agreed to reconvene in Geneva for negotiations on the constitution, United Nations Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said on Tuesday, saying that it could provide the arena for bridging “deep, deep mistrust”.
German court limits power of spy agency’s overseas bugging
Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that the surveillance of telephones and internet traffic of foreign nationals abroad by the BND intelligence agency violates parts of the constitution.
Thai government approves plan for bankruptcy court-led restructuring of Thai Airways
Thailand’s cabinet approved a plan to restructure troubled Thai Airways International Pcl’s finances through a bankruptcy court, the Southeast Asian country’s prime minister said on Tuesday.
Stepson of Malaysian ex-PM Najib could testify against him in 1MDB trial -prosecutors
Riza Aziz, the stepson of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, has agreed to testify against the ex-premier in a trial linked to a multibillion-dollar fraud at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Lesotho PM Thomas Thabane resigns, soothing political crisis
Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane resigned on Tuesday, removing the main hurdle to resolving a political crisis that engulfed the small southern African mountain kingdom late last year.
Hungary rejects EU court ruling on asylum-seekers held at border
Hungary will not accept a ruling by the European Union’s top court that four asylum-seekers stuck in a transit zone on the Hungarian-Serbian border should be released, a security aide to Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday.
Spain lifts ban on flights from Italy, but tourism still off cards
Spain lifted a ban on direct flights and ships from Italy but retained a block on cruise ships and a quarantine for inbound travellers as a survey showed the coronavirus outbreak had also put locals off travelling.
Step up COVID-19 testing, tracking, lawmakers criticise UK response
Britain must step up its testing and tracking to help tackle the coronavirus crisis, lawmakers said on Tuesday, criticising the government for dropping a programme to check for COVID-19 in March and not moving fast enough to build it up.
Hong Kong extends coronavirus group restrictions, Tiananmen vigil at risk
Hong Kong on Tuesday extended a restriction on public gatherings for at least another two weeks as authorities still report new coronavirus cases occasionally, in a move that threatens the city’s annual vigil to commemorate the Tiananmen crackdown.
