Politics

Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 21:35 UTC
New Zealand confidence undermined by third virus case in the “Covid 19-free country”

New Zealand recorded on Thursday its third new case of COVID-19 this week as quarantine breaches and other failures undermined public confidence days after it declared itself among the first countries in the world to be free of the virus.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 21:10 UTC
“The Great John Bolton bombs” the White House and exposes Great Trump weaknesses

In a withering behind-the-scenes portrayal, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton accused him of sweeping misdeeds that included explicitly seeking Chinese President Xi Jinping’s help to win re-election.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 21:10 UTC
US and EU clash over taxes on digital firms; accord or no accord France will apply a 3% levy by end of the year

France said a U.S. decision to quit global talks on how to tax big digital firms such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook was a “provocation” and the European Union said it could impose taxes even if no deal was reached by year-end.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 21:06 UTC
Facebook removes 900 accounts associated with far right violent groups

Facebook on Tuesday removed almost 900 accounts associated with the far-right Proud Boys and American Guard, including those belonging to Proud Boys supporters who marched into a protest zone in Seattle last Monday and confronted anti-racist demonstrators.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 20:41 UTC
Another conflict? Nepal approves new map which includes land controlled by India

The upper house of Nepal’s parliament approved a new map of the country on Thursday including land controlled by India, in a row that has strained ties between the South Asian neighbors.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 20:02 UTC
Delhi and Beijing try to deescalate border tensions; India buries the 20 soldiers killed

India prepared to hold funerals on Thursday for some of the 20 soldiers killed in brutal hand-to-hand fighting with Chinese troops in a disputed mountainous border region, as the two governments sought to deescalate tensions.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 13:30 UTC
Chile heading for its worst economic contraction in 35 years, central bank

The Chilean central bank said on Wednesday that the economy of the world’s top copper producer would contract between 5.5% and 7.5% in 2020, taking it to the lowest levels since the Latin American debt crisis of the 1980s.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 12:40 UTC
Macron puts on De Gaulle boots and visits UK in a symbolic anniversary

French President Emmanuel Macron travels to Britain this Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a hugely symbolic visit and his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 12:09 UTC
India, Mexico, Norway and Ireland chosen to the UN Security Council; defeat for Canada's Trudeau

The UN General Assembly elected on Wednesday four new members of the Security Council for 2021 and 2022, with Canada losing out again and the battle for the African seat going to a second round.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 11:15 UTC
EU conditions post-Brexit UK talks and looks ahead to three months of intense discussions

The European Union's chief executive, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Wednesday that the bloc will do its best to seal an agreement on new ties with Britain by the end of the year but will not compromise its core values, notably on fair competition.