Brother of George Floyd backs U.N. probe into U.S. racism, violence
The brother of the late George Floyd called on the top U.N. human rights body on Wednesday to investigate police brutality and racial discrimination in the United States.
Romanian rights groups condemn ban on gender identity studies
Romanian human rights groups and universities on Wednesday condemned a blanket ban on gender identity studies voted through by lawmakers, which they said would legitimise discrimination against the country’s LGBT minority.
French court finds Bashar al-Assad’s uncle guilty of property fraud
The exiled uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was found guilty on Wednesday of acquiring millions of euros worth of French property using funds diverted from the Syrian state, and sentenced to four years in prison.
Turkey still blocking defence plan for Poland, Baltics, NATO envoys say
Turkey continues to block a NATO defence plan for Poland and Baltic states despite a deal last year between Turkey’s president and allied leaders, three allied diplomats and a French defence official said on Wednesday.
Pompeo to meet with China’s top diplomat in Hawaii: State Dept
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat, on Wednesday in Honolulu, the State Department said, a crucial meeting as relations between the two countries have deeply soured since the start of the year.
Eight suspects arrested in South Africa’s ‘biggest bank robbery’ VBS fraud case
South African authorities have apprehended eight people suspected of illegally siphoning 2.3 billion rand ($133.87 million) from small lender VBS Mutual Bank, which collapsed in 2018 because of the corruption scandal.
U.S. hits Syria with toughest sanctions yet to push Assad to end war
The United States on Wednesday imposed its toughest sanctions ever targeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to choke off revenue for his government in a bid to force it back to United Nations-led negotiations and broker an end to the country’s nearly…
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.
