The number of coronavirus deaths in Brazil has now surpassed half a million, the country’s health ministry has confirmed. The number has risen to 500,800 after an increase of a further 2,301 fatalities in the past 24 hours. Anti-government protests took place in cities across Brazil on Saturday as demonstrators blame the high number of
World
Hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi has taken a big lead in Iran’s presidential election and his rivals have conceded defeat, according to state TV. Mr Raisi has taken an unassailable lead in the election, winning 17.8 million votes, an interior ministry official said. His closest rival, Mohsen Rezaei, a senior conservative general, won just 3.3 million
Brazil is likely to pass the awful mark of 500,000 COVID-related deaths in the next two days. Only the United States has a higher number of dead across the world. Currently averaging 2,500 deaths a day, Brazil’s P1 variant has long been identified as a highly virulent cause for concern, prompting travel bans to most
A Greek man suspected of murdering his British wife after claiming she was killed during a robbery at their home tried to create a convincing crime scene by placing their baby next to its dead mother, according to police. Babis Anagnostopoulos is also accused of choking the family dog to death with its lead in
Police say a Greek man has confessed to killing his British wife – just weeks after he claimed she died during a brutal invasion of the couple’s home. Caroline Crouch, 20, who grew up in Greece, was found murdered in a bedroom at the family home near Athens on 11 May after her husband alerted
The most senior editor and four other bosses at a pro-democracy newspaper have been arrested under Hong Kong’s new national security law. The editor-in-chief, publisher and three other senior executives at the tabloid Apple Daily were held early on Thursday for breaching the Beijing-imposed legislation. It came as 500 officers raided the offices of the
Homeowners affected by Ireland’s latest defective homes scandal have vowed to continue battling for full redress from the government. At least 5,000 Celtic Tiger-era homes, mostly in Counties Donegal and Mayo, are crumbling because of substandard building blocks that contain high levels of mica. The mineral absorbs water and leads to disastrous cracking in walls.
The American and Russian presidents will meet today in Geneva for a summit at a moment of deeply strained relations between the two countries. Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin’s encounter at a villa on the shores of Lake Geneva is full of the potential for high drama but low on expectations for diplomatic breakthroughs. The
Israel has launched airstrikes in Gaza less than a month after a ceasefire agreement was reached. The move, also the first strikes under the new Israeli government, came after incendiary balloons were launched from Palestinian territory. The balloon launches appeared to be in retaliation for a march on Tuesday in East Jerusalem where Jewish nationalists
China has warned Britain, the United States and the rest of the NATO alliance that it will not “sit by and do nothing” if challenges approach. A senior diplomat also accused the 30 allies of slander after they agreed for the first time that Beijing posed “systemic challenges” to international rules and values. At a
Boris Johnson has said NATO does not want to “descend into a new Cold War” with China. Speaking ahead of the summit in Brussels, the prime minister said the East Asian nation had become a “new strategic consideration” for NATO but he also said there would be “opportunities” to engage. “I don’t think anybody around
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has denied claims his country is waging a cyber war against the United States. In an exclusive interview with NBC News, the Russian president rebuffed accusations Russian hackers, or the government itself, is using technological warfare against America – as baseless. He said claims his country was involved in cyber attacks
The US, Britain and the rest of the NATO alliance are expected to sharpen their language on the challenge posed by China, keep up pressure on Russia and for the first time make tackling the impact on security of climate change a key task. President Joe Biden will touch down in Brussels on Sunday evening
Christian Eriksen has “sent his greetings to his teammates” from hospital, where he remains under examination following his collapse during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 match on Saturday. In a statement on Twitter, the Danish FA said: “Latest news: This morning we have spoken to Christian Eriksen, who has sent his greetings to his teammates. “His
Saudi Arabia is limiting the number of Muslims who can take part in the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina – called the Hajj – for a second year, because of COVID-19. Only 60,000 of its own citizens and residents will be able to join the event, the state Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the relationship between his country and the US is at its “lowest point” ahead of his meeting with Joe Biden. In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Mr Putin said: “We have a bilateral relationship that has deteriorated to its lowest point in recent years.” The two leaders will