People in Japan oppose Tokyo Olympics - but only an 'Armageddon' will stop it

The only thing which will stop the Tokyo Olympics going ahead, according to the International Olympic Committee, is "Armageddon" - a bar that the pandemic, as terrible as it has been, does not currently meet. https://ift.tt/34xcczY

Tory grandee's daughter-in-law charged after police officer shot dead in Belize

The daughter-in-law of Conservative grandee Lord Ashcroft has been charged with manslaughter by negligence after a police superintendent was shot dead in Belize.  https://ift.tt/3fTX30W

MPs urge Boris Johnson to give more COVID vaccines to poorer nations

Boris Johnson is being urged to give more COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries ahead of the G7 summit. https://ift.tt/3i74Xqo

Coronavirus variants given new names by the WHO under new system - here's the full list

Coronavirus variants have been renamed with letters of the Greek alphabet following criticism of the way they have been labelled up until now. https://ift.tt/34wxdLa

Tennis star Naomi Osaka pulls out of French Open after fine for skipping news conferences

Tennis star Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the French Open after being threatened with expulsion if she continued a media boycott. https://ift.tt/3fCDfQU

Tennis star Naomi Osaka pulls out of French Open after fine for skipping news conferences

Tennis star Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the French Open after being threatened with expulsion if she continued a media boycott. https://ift.tt/2RS4AFI

This impoverished school shows how cuts to UK's foreign aid budget hurt those most in need

In a ramshackle corner of a war-ravaged state, the sound of joy and youthful exuberance fills the air. https://ift.tt/3fVVPCh

Vietnam imposes flight ban as Indian-British COVID variant 'combination' blamed for rising cases

Vietnam has imposed tougher restrictions in its major cities as the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed a "combination" of the Indian and British variants of COVID-19 had been found in the country. https://ift.tt/3yUdtzg

China to allow couples to have three children in bid to reverse ageing population

China's ruling Communist Party will now allow couples to have three children instead of two in a drive to reverse its ageing population. https://ift.tt/3wJdTX9

UK growth forecast upgraded but pandemic 'scar' to be worst of all G7 nations, says OECD

The UK economy will grow even faster than expected this year and next, but it is nonetheless expected to suffer the most long-term economic damage of any of the seven major industrialised nations following the pandemic, the OECD has warned. https://ift.tt/3uBuqei

'It's the right thing to do': Hundreds more Afghan interpreters to be welcomed to the UK

Thousands more Afghans will be able to settle in the UK under plans to relocate those who worked for Britain during the recent conflict. https://ift.tt/3i5dCJW

Flooding forces hundreds from their homes in New Zealand

Hundreds of people have had to leave their homes as parts of New Zealand are hit with what has been described as a one-in-100-year deluge. https://ift.tt/3p5NmRg

'Compelling reason' needed to travel to France from the UK after it tightens COVID border restrictions

France has tightened restrictions on foreign travellers in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus variant first identified in India. https://ift.tt/3wJNY1E

'About 200' children abducted after school ambushed by gunmen on motorbikes in Nigeria

Armed men on motorcycles have kidnapped a large number of children following the ambush of a school in Nigeria. https://ift.tt/3c28Rxa

Israel's opposition parties move closer to deal that could end Netanyahu's 12 years in power

Israel's opposition parties are moving closer to reaching an agreement that could mean the end of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 12 years in power. https://ift.tt/3p6k5Gg

Osaka fined and threatened with expulsion from French Open if she continues media boycott

Tennis star Naomi Osaka faces being thrown out of the French Open if she continues to avoid speaking to journalists at news conferences. https://ift.tt/3p5aqzJ

Fears over 'inhuman' UK aid cuts as South Sudan 'on brink of famine'

When the UK government announced cuts to overseas aid spending amounting to £4bn, the decision sent shockwaves through South Sudan, which is one of the poorest countries on earth.  https://ift.tt/3c4vGQA

Swiss motorcycle racer, 19, dies after crash at Italian GP

Swiss motorcycle racer Jason Dupasquier has died in hospital from injuries sustained in a crash at the Italian grand prix. https://ift.tt/2SAj2lz

Chelsea win Champions League - as Man City denied first major European title

Chelsea have won the Champions League after battling it out in front of thousands of English fans in Porto, Portugal. https://ift.tt/3yRjFYO

Emotions stripped by the pandemic restored in full technicolour in Porto

A young woman emerged from the Estadio do Dragao with a Chelsea scarf draped around her shoulders and a tear-stained face. https://ift.tt/34tXDx1

Thousands protest across Brazil over Bolsonaro's handling of COVID

Thousands of people have gathered across Brazil to protest at President Bolsonaro's management of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://ift.tt/3fTsiJr

Tory grandee's daughter-in-law arrested after police officer shot dead in Belize

The daughter-in-law of Conservative grandee Lord Ashcroft has been arrested after a police superintendent was shot dead in Belize.  https://ift.tt/34ts6ey

Remains of 215 children found at former indigenous school in Canada

The remains of more than 200 children have been found at the site of a former residential school for indigenous children in Canada. https://ift.tt/3wIo66d

'More transmissible' COVID variant thought to be hybrid of UK and Indian strains found in Vietnam

A new COVID-19 variant made up of the strains first found in the UK and India has been discovered in Vietnam, its health ministry has announced. https://ift.tt/3fWcXYM

Russia's passport ploy is yet another assault on Ukrainian sovereignty

Novoshakhtinsk is a nondescript former mining city on Russia's border with Ukraine. It is not the place for a day-trip.   https://ift.tt/3uymtq7

Nearly 200 passengers and crew saved from the sea after Indonesian ferry fire

A ferry carrying nearly 200 people has caught fire in Indonesia, forcing passengers and crew to jump into the sea. https://ift.tt/3p3XHNK

Dozens of monkeys gasping for air rescued from Thailand smugglers

More than 100 monkeys have been rescued from smugglers in Thailand - who were carrying them in bags in the back of a pick-up truck. https://ift.tt/34uDiYE

'This could be a catastrophe': Thousands flee over warnings of second eruption in DR Congo

Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo over warnings that a volcano could erupt again - with some families struggling to find enough food and water. https://ift.tt/3hWFFeG

Abandoned fishing nets in Thailand's oceans are being transformed into COVID-19 protective gear

Abandoned fishing nets littering the ocean are being transformed into COVID-19 protective gear in Thailand. https://ift.tt/3wHCf3v

Spanish postal service criticised as skin-coloured stamps go on sale, with lighter tones costing more

Spain's postal service has been accused of racism after issuing a set of unequally priced skin-coloured stamps.  https://ift.tt/3yLQMNk

'It doesn't seem like COVID's here at all': British fans arrive in Porto for Champions League final

In Porto's Ribeira Square, the unmistakable sight and sound of English football fans abroad has returned. https://ift.tt/3uuzAsr

Irish PM sets out roadmap for easing COVID restrictions - including return of foreign travel

The Irish government has set out its plans for re-opening the country over the summer - including the adoption of a COVID-19 certificate so that people can travel abroad more freely. https://ift.tt/3uwIOUU

'Every civilian casualty is tragic': Israeli fighter pilot on Gaza bombing missions

An Israeli fighter pilot who operated against Palestinian militants in Gaza this month has said all civilian deaths in the conflict were tragic, but that he only bombed "Hamas-related" targets. https://ift.tt/3vybSgb

Lukashenko tells Putin opponents trying to 'destabilise' Belarus amid outcry over plane diversion

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that the country's opponents are trying to "destabilise" the political situation there. https://ift.tt/3fRN8Jk

Lukashenko tells Putin opponents trying to 'destabilise' Belarus amid outcry over forced plane diversion

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that the country's opponents are trying to "destabilise" the political situation there. https://ift.tt/3yEYeKl

France in double-dip recession as figures show first quarter worse than thought

France has suffered a double-dip recession according to revised official figures that showed it had a worse start to the year than previously thought. https://ift.tt/3i0KRhu

Japan extends COVID state of emergency with just weeks until Olympics

Japan has extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas, as the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of easing less than two months before the Olympics begin. https://ift.tt/34s46IQ

'Deeply embarrassed' Canadian MP who appeared naked in virtual meeting caught out again

A Canadian MP left red-faced after appearing naked during a virtual meeting of the House of Commons has been caught out again. https://ift.tt/2SzskOH

The one where Chinese viewers saw a redacted version of the Friends reunion

While millions of adoring fans were able to enjoy the Friends reunion in its entirety this week, those in China noticed something was missing from their version. https://ift.tt/3yJG0HA

Why has No 10 had to defend PM's meeting with Viktor Orban?

Downing Street has defended a meeting between Viktor Orban and Boris Johnson amid renewed criticism over the Hungarian leader's derogatory comments about migrants. https://ift.tt/3fu4f52

Russia bars flights for avoiding ally Belarus as forced plane grounding row continues

Russia has denied entry to two European airline planes because they planned to avoid flying over Belarus to reach Moscow. https://ift.tt/2SuOK3D

What is the Wuhan COVID lab leak theory and why is it being taken seriously?

A year-and-a-half on from the first cases in Wuhan, the origins of COVID-19 are still unknown. https://ift.tt/3vx5VQF

Former astronaut pleads guilty to killing two young sisters in car crash

A former NASA astronaut has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after killing two young sisters in a car crash nearly five years ago.  https://ift.tt/3wBHhP2

Hard to believe Russia was not involved in Belarus plane 'hijacking' - NATO secretary-general

NATO's secretary-general has said it's likely that Russia was involved in the Belarus plane "hijacking". https://ift.tt/3oYqTFR

Syria's Bashar al Assad elected for fourth term as president after winning 95.1% of the vote

Syria's President Bashar al Assad has been re-elected with 95.1% of the vote, according to officials in the country, as the West denounced the vote as illegitimate.  https://ift.tt/3vsKlNa

Largest-ever map of the universe's dark matter is released

The largest-ever map of the universe's dark matter has been released. https://ift.tt/3wRMzGr

Israel and Hamas to face investigation for possible war crimes following 11 days of fighting

Israel and Hamas will be investigated for potential war crimes after the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution in favour of action. https://ift.tt/3oYFmSc

'Hear the scream of my heart': Belarusian journalist's mother speaks out after plane arrest

The mother of the Belarusian journalist detained in the country after his flight was forced to land has shared her anguish at the situation - and called for help from international leaders. https://ift.tt/3foeEiC

China accuses US of being 'disrespectful to science' over coronavirus origins probe

Beijing has accused the US of playing politics and shirking its responsibility in calling for a new investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic that was first detected in China in late 2019. https://ift.tt/3vrwpmP

Global tax reforms that could raise billions edge closer as G7 on brink of agreement

The biggest reforms to the global taxation system in a century are edging closer to reality, with the group of seven leading industrial economies now on the brink of agreeing to a global minimum corporate tax rate, insiders have told Sky News. https://ift.tt/2TqHTZH