Britons bristle at explanation of Johnson aide’s lockdown trip
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says people should make up their own minds about the decision of his senior aide Dominic Cummings to drive 250 miles (400 km) from London during lockdown. The early evidence is that they have.
Brazil police raid Rio governor’s residences amid COVID-19 probe
Brazilian federal police on Tuesday raided the residences of Rio de Janeiro’s right-wing Governor Wilson Witzel as part of a COVID-19 corruption probe, targeting one of President Jair Bolsonaro’s political foes as the pandemic sweeps the nation.
No reason to keep Swedes out when Nordics reopen borders: Swedish Minister
Excluding Sweden from moves to open borders across the Nordic region as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic would be a political decision and not justifiable on health grounds, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia allows mosques to open for Friday prayers
Saudi Arabia will allow mosques to open for Friday prayers, state TV reported on Tuesday, as the kingdom eases restrictions on movement to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
U.N. calls meeting to boost pandemic support for developing countries
U.N. officials said they will meet on Thursday with over a dozen world leaders to discuss shoring up financial support for emerging economies, hit hard by the pandemic’s economic fallout.
Zambian president pardons gay couple jailed for 15 years
Zambia’s president has pardoned a gay couple sentenced to 15 years in prison in November under colonial-era sodomy laws in a case that caused a diplomatic row with the United States.
Germany aims to lift European travel warning, ease distancing
Germany aims to lift a travel warning for 31 European countries from mid-June, a government source said, and media reported that social distancing rules imposed to avoid the coronavirus could be eased from June 29, a week earlier than planned.
‘Finally free’ – homebound Filipinos cheer end to quarantine ordeal
Hundreds of repatriated Filipino workers made their way to bus and airport terminals on Tuesday to return to families, the first among around 24,000 nationals stuck for weeks in the capital’s quarantine facilities, hotels and aboard cruise ships.
U.S. military says Russia deployed fighter jets to Libya
The U.S. military said on Tuesday that Russia has deployed fighter aircraft to Libya to support Russian mercenaries fighting for eastern forces, adding to concerns of a new escalation in the conflict.
Poland’s nationalists accuse opposition of more delays in election row
Poland’s governing nationalists on Tuesday accused opposition lawmakers of trying for a second time to delay a presidential election, after the speaker of the Senate said it would not reconvene to discuss legislation for the vote until next week.
