UK Labour Party blame game begins as crushing defeat looms
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn faced calls to quit on Friday, after equivocation over Brexit and his limited personal appeal contributed to a collapse in traditional strongholds and what looks like his party’s worst election defeat in 84 years.
New Zealand recovers six bodies from volcanic island in high-risk mission
A New Zealand military team recovered six bodies on Friday from the volcanic island that fatally erupted earlier this week, in a high risk operation watched by dozens of grieving family members waiting on the mainland.
Senior China diplomat says U.S. seriously damaged hard-won mutual trust
Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said on Friday that the United States had seriously damaged the hard-won mutual trust between the countries by criticizing Beijing over issues such as Hong Kong and the treatment of Muslim Uighurs.
Beijing’s legal influence triggers disquiet in Hong Kong financial sector
When China’s top legislature criticized a Hong Kong court’s rejection of a face mask ban there, some global firms began to fear the potential for mainland interference in commercial contracts, lawyers and finance executives said.
Myanmar’s lawyer to critics on genocide case: Everyone has right to defense
Canadian lawyer William Schabas, an international scholar on genocide, has been criticized by friend and foe for first researching crimes against the Muslim Rohingya of Myanmar, and now defending the state accused of perpetrating them.
EU hammers out 2050 climate neutrality deal, leaves Poland out
European Union leaders agreed on Friday to a 2050 climate neutrality target for the bloc, after hours of haggling with Eastern European states demanding funds to support a transition away from fossil fuels and a role for nuclear power.
‘Why is the road broken?’ Sightless Hong Kongers live city of protest by sound
In Hong Kong, when the tempo of traffic-light signals accelerates to about 800 ticks a minute, visually impaired residents know they can safely cross the road. But over the past six months of unrest, many streets have lost their beat.
NZ police will continue efforts to retrieve remaining two bodies on volcano
New Zealand’s police commissioner said on Friday that authorities will continue their efforts to retrieve the remaining two bodies on the volcanic White Island that fatally erupted earlier this week.
Merkel broadly content with EU pledge for climate neutrality
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was broadly happy that EU leaders had committed to climate-neutrality by 2050, while acknowledging that Poland would need another six months to fully sign up.
Britain Brexit bound as Johnson heads for big parliamentary majority
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party will win a resounding victory in Britain’s election with a parliamentary majority of 86 seats, an exit poll showed on Thursday, empowering him to deliver Brexit on Jan. 31.
