EU leaders threaten trade war
London’s The Times says European leaders will warn Boris Johnson today they are prepared to start a trade war with Britain. German chancellor Angela Merkel and President Macron of France will use one-to-one meetings with Boris Johnson in Cornwall to demand that he honours the terms of the Brexit deal in relation to Northern Ireland.
G7 leaders’ pledge on pandemics
World leaders at the G7 summit in the UK have announced a pledge to prevent new pandemics by responding to outbreaks within a hundred days. The BBC reports they are expected to sign an agreement later today improving surveillance and speeding up diagnositics and vaccine development. According to official agenda, five of them are also expected to discuss the challemges posed by Russia and China. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir, Putin has told NBC that relations between the United States and Russia are at “their lowest point in years”. However, he pointed out he could work with Biden.
End of UK’s COVID lockdown could be delayed
UK nationals say the British Government is considering delaying the lifting of England’s remaining COVID restrictions by up to four weeks. The final stage of lifting lockdown, originally planned to take place no earlier than 21 June, would see all legal limits on social contact removed. It comes amid growing concern over rapidly increasing cases and the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant.
Teen who filmed George Floyd’s murder wins Pulitzer Prize
A teenager who filmed the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer has been awarded a special journalism award by the Pulitzer Prize board. The New York Times quotes the Pulitzer committee saying Darnella Frazier, now 18, was awarded the citation for her courage. Her film spurred protests for racial justice around the world and was used as evidence in the trial that convicted police officer Derek Chauvin.
Humpback whale swallows lobsterman
A lobster fisherman in the US says he survived being swallowed by a humpback whale. Michael Packard, 56, told WBZ-TV News that after jumping off his boat in scuba gear into the water, he “felt this huge bump and everything went dark”. The leviathan spat him out and Mr Packard was left with nothing more than a suspected dislocated knee.
Italian media uphoric
Euro 2020: The Italian media is full of praise for the national football team which, in yesterday’s opening Group A match, eased past Turkey beating them 3-0 – extending their unbeaten run to 28 matches. Headlines varied from Ansa’s “Italia spettacolo al debutto”, to La Gazetta dello Sport’s “È subito un Italia da impazzire”. The Euro 2020 programme continues this afternoon with another Group A match: Wales v. Switzerland at 3 pm and two Group B games: Denmark v. Finland at 6pm and Belgium v. Russia at 9 pm.
