Britain’s Sunak picks ex-official Hughes to head budget watchdog
British finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday he had picked Richard Hughes, a former senior official at Britain’s Treasury and the International Monetary Fund, as the next head of the country’s influential budget watchdog.
Fuel leak risk at Arctic mining site flagged by Russia years before spill: RBC
A Russian safety watchdog warned a subsidiary of mining giant Norilsk Nickel in 2017-2018 about dozens of violations at a fuel site in the Arctic where a huge leak of diesel fuel occurred last week, the RBC media portal reported on Friday.
Macron demands release of French-Iranian academic Adelkhah
France demanded on Friday that Franco-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, whom Tehran has sentenced to six years in prison, be released immediately, saying her detention was harming trust between the two countries.
China says ex-soccer star’s call for ouster of Communist Party is ‘absurd’
China on Friday called retired soccer star Hao Haidong’s remarks “absurd” after the celebrated player called for the ouster of the ruling Communist Party in a video released on Thursday, the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-dem…
Indonesia reports 703 new coronavirus infections, 49 new deaths: official
Indonesia reported 703 new coronavirus infections on Friday, taking the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 29,521.
Philippines reports three new coronavirus deaths, 244 more cases
The Philippines’ health ministry on Friday confirmed three new coronavirus deaths and 244 more infections, the lowest single-day increase in cases in two weeks.
Once targeted by officials, street vendors make unexpected comeback in China
Three weeks ago, Beijing authorities swooped in on Shan Peng and her makeshift street stall, seizing her merchandise – yogurt and casual pants – and even her electric tricycle.
Traditional owners say Rio Tinto knew importance of caves razed for mine
Rio Tinto Ltd knew the cultural and historical significance of two caves in Western Australia years before it blew them up last month as part of an iron ore mine expansion, traditional owners said on Friday.
Beijing city government to further cut COVID-19 emergency response level
Beijing’s municipal government said on Friday it will lower its COVID-19 emergency response from level II to level III effective from Saturday, state media reported.
Libyan government says it has entered Haftar stronghold Tarhouna
Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognised government said on Friday they had entered Tarhouna, the last major stronghold of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar near Tripoli, capping the sudden collapse of his 14-month offensive.
