‘Positive and constructive’ Biden-Putin summit
The US and Russian Presidents have described their first summit as “positive and constructive”, even if they both made it clear that significant differences remain. Le Monde quotes President Biden saying they had agreed to work together in areas of mutual concern but the US would respond to any actions that put American interests at risk. Pravda reports President Putin rebuffed criticism about cyber attacks and human rights abuses but described the talks as “fruitful”. Major US networks were surprised by the conclusion of the Biden-Putin summit earlier than expected. CNN expected further sub-meetings of the two delegations, which did not take place. The meeting lasted 93 minutes, instead of the foreseen duration of between four and five hours.
Iberians first to get EU Recovery Funds
Spain and Portugal have become the first EU countries to receive money from the bloc’s 750.5-billion-Euro COVID-19 Recovery Fund. El Mundo says Spain is getting 75-billion Euros in grants and loans while Portugal will get 13.3 billion. At a news conference, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it was “a historic day for Europe”.
Hong Kong police blitz pro-democracy tabloid
The Hong Kong Police Security Department raided the offices of Apple Daily, the pro-democracy tabloid of tycoon Jimmy Lai this morning, arresting five executives under national security law, including its director Ryan Law. South China Morning Post reports the police said the five executives were arrested “for collusion with a foreign country or with outside elements to endanger the national security”.
Lewinsky producing TV series on Clinton scandal
Forty-seven-year-old former White House intern Monica Lewinsky will produce a new television series for Disney’s 20th Television, inspired by the scandal that, when she was just 21, placed her at the centre of a political storm that resulted in the first impeachment trial of a US President in office in over a century. The series, which debuts on FX in September, is part of the “American Crime Story” anthology. Entitled “Impeachment”, it is inspired by Jeffrey Toobin’s essay, “A Vast Conspiracy”, on the sex scandal that almost caused the downfall of then President Bill Clinton. In recent years, Lewinsky has reinvented herself as a writer, activist and now also the owner of a production company.
EURO2020: Italy first to qualify for round 16
“Questa Italia è una meraviglia!” screams the front page heading of Gazzetta dello Sport as Italy beat Switzerland 3-0 in a Euro 2020 Group A match, guaranteeing qualification for the round of 16 with one match to spare. And it is also already certain that the Azzurri, currently with full points, will pass the round as group A winners or as runners-up. The decisive factor in assigning the lead in the group will be Sunday’s match against Wales, which follows the Azzurri, leading with six points, two points behind. If Bale and his associates succeed in Rome, Wales will be in first place, otherwise Italy will close the top. At this point, they will face the second classified in Group C, on June 26th at 9 pm at Wembley – the Netherlands, Austria, Ukraine and North Macedonia. If Italy were to finish second, they would face another second, that of Group B with Belgium, Finland, Denmark and Russia, again on June 26 (6 pm) at the Johann Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. Other matches played yesterday: Finland v. Russia 0-1 and Turkey v. Wales 0-2. Today’s programe: Ukraine v. Macedonia (3pm), Denmark v. Belgium (6pm) and The Netherlands v. Austria (9pm). Copa America: Columbia v. Venezuela at 11pm
