Biden says U.S. should lead world in condemning China over Hong Kong actions
The United States must lead the world in condemning China if it imposes new national security rules on Hong Kong, likely Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said on Friday after Beijing unveiled a law that could undermine the territory’s autonomy…
Polish president’s lead in polls narrows sharply ahead of election
Conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda has seen his lead narrow sharply ahead of an election expected to take place in coming weeks, opinion polls have shown, after preparations for a May 10 ballot collapsed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Ancient Belgian watermill sees flour demand spike during lockdown
As Europeans have sought stress relief from baking while under lockdown, one of Belgium’s last watermills still producing flour has seen a surge in demand for its produce.
Not ‘everything has gone perfectly’, says NHS England head of coronavirus lessons
Britain should have learned more from other countries who were tackling coronavirus outbreaks earlier, the head of NHS England Simon Stevens said on Friday, acknowledging that not everything with the response had gone perfectly.
Turkey hopes ‘healthy tourism’ scheme will conquer coronavirus slump
At a luxury hotel in Istanbul, staff in gloves and masks space out and disinfect tables as they prepare for a scheme which Turkey hopes will rescue part of its $35 billion tourism industry from the ravages of coronavirus.
Iran applauds weapons supply to Palestinians against ‘tumor’ Israel
Iran’s Supreme Leader on Friday denounced Israel as a “tumor” to be eliminated and hailed Tehran’s supply of arms to Palestinians, drawing swift condemnation from the United States and the European Union.
Putin urges more testing as Russia’s coronavirus death toll climbs
President Vladimir Putin told officials on Friday to ramp up testing for the new coronavirus, but said Russia’s outbreak was stabilising even as the death toll rose by a record one-day amount.
Czechs say epidemic under control; further lockdown easing on Monday
Czech health authorities believe the spread of the new coronavirus is under control despite a tick-up in cases in recent days, as the country prepares to open pubs, hotels and relax mask-wearing rules on Monday.
Hong Kong leader expects pro-democracy protests to continue
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Friday she did not expect pro-democracy protests that have been taking place since June last year to end, even as the central government in Beijing announced plans to introduce national security legislation.
China’s plans for security agencies in Hong Kong will ‘silence city’, activists say
A Chinese proposal to impose national security laws on Hong Kong could see mainland intelligence agencies set up bases there, raising fears of direct law enforcement and what U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called a “death knell” for the city’s au…
