WORLD

Paris, France | AFP | The world added 12 percent more clean power capacity in 2019 than the year before, but new renewable energy planned over the next decade falls far short of what is needed to forestall dangerous global warming, the UN warned on Wednesday. An additional 184 gigawatts (GW) …

Washington, United States | AFP | George Floyd’s death and the resulting wave of rage against racism and police brutality may have changed the political calculus for US presidential contender Joe Biden, who faces pressure to pick a black female running mate. Senator Kamala Harris, an early favorite, House Democrat Val …

Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Brussels waded into the dispute between President Donald Trump and Twitter on Wednesday, backing the US social media giant’s decision to fact-check two tweets by the US leader. The European Commission’s top official on countering disinformation praised Twitter for tagging two claims made by Trump last …

Washington, United States | AFP | The brother of George Floyd, whose killing by police sparked worldwide protests against racism, told the US Congress Wednesday to “stop the pain” by passing reforms to address and reduce police brutality. One day after burying his brother in Houston, Philonise Floyd appeared in person before a House hearing, …

Baku, Azerbaijan | AFP |  Nineteen staff in the office of Azerbaijan’s president have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said, as authorities in the repressive Caucasus nation struggle to contain an escalating crisis. A further 13 infections were also confirmed among employees of the emergency situations ministry and the …

  Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Swedish prosecutors on Wednesday named their main suspect in the 1986 killing of prime minister Olof Palme, closing the murder case that has gripped the Scandanavian country for more than three decades. The suspect was named as Stig Engstrom, a former advertising consultant known …

Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP |  Cabin crews on standby with destinations revealed only hours before the flight, pilots put on simulators to keep up to date — an airline restarting after the pandemic is a far cry from the clockwork precision of the pre-coronavirus world. “Flexibility” is the top …

Paris, France | AFP |  Thousands paid tribute to George Floyd in Paris on Tuesday as the prime minister insisted that France and its security forces were “not racist”, following a string of allegations of heavy-handedness and police brutality. Some placards at the rally, which took place at the same time …

Stockholm, Sweden | AFP |  In a highly anticipated announcement, Swedish prosecutors will reveal Wednesday whether they are pressing charges or closing the investigation into the unsolved 1986 murder of prime minister Olof Palme. The killing, which current Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has described as an “open wound”, has stumped …

Washington, United States | AFP |  Russia called Tuesday on the United States to make a “positive” proposal as the powers open talks on a major disarmament treaty, warning that US insistence on including China could scuttle efforts. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov will meet in Vienna on June 22 with …