World News Briefs -- June 12, 2020 (Evening Edition)

AP: UN health chief: Fighting virus very hard in divided world

GENEVA (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization said Friday he is “truly concerned” about divisions the coronavirus has created globally and within individual countries, calling it an “invisible but a very small virus causing havoc.”

“The world has never seen anything like this since the flu in 1918,” WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing, comparing the ongoing pandemic to the Spanish influenza pandemic more than a century ago that is believed to have killed at least 50 million people.

Calling on nations to learn from history and “to do better,” Tedros said the lack of political unity during the current crisis was problematic.

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MIDDLE EAST

Iran rejects U.N. report that arms 'of Iranian origin' used in Saudi attacks.

Missiles used to attack Saudi Arabia of 'Iranian origin': UN.

US vows to reduce Iraq troop presence in first strategic talks in over a decade.

Calls grow for Iranians to wear masks to stop virus.

Lebanon protests escalate as currency dives. Lebanese pound plummets to record low, sparks mass protests.

Oman mulls asking for financial aid from Gulf neighbours.

UAE warns annexation would upend any normalisation with Israel.

Jordan charges former MP with 'insulting the king, queen'.

Turkey slams 'propaganda machine' Twitter over removal of accounts.

ASIA

Fears of a coronavirus second wave in South Korea as it emerges the R rate has risen to 1.8 in the Seoul area.

Deadly blast hits Kabul mosque during Friday prayers.

Firing at Nepal-India border leaves one dead amid strained ties.

India's Covid-19 caseload ranks fourth in the world as infections near 300,000. Coronavirus: Overwhelmed India hospitals turn Covid patients away.

Hong Kongers sing protest anthem one year after major clashes.

Beijing sends warplane to buzz Taiwan after missile test.

China touts military training near tense Indian border.

China and Philippines pledge mutual support after Rodrigo Duterte’s U-turn on scrapping US alliance.

New virus cases raise fears in Chinese capital, markets closed.

New Zealand will ease border restrictions after James Cameron's Avatar film-crew were given special permission to enter the country.

AFRICA

New Lesotho PM Majoro says to focus on stability after scandal.

Global report: WHO warns of accelerating Covid-19 infections in Africa.

Conflict, division blight virus response in Libya.

UN expresses 'horror' over reports of Libya mass graves.

Niger: Video shows Army killing wounded men.

Burundi court rules president-elect to take power after Nkurunziza’s death. Nkurunziza death: Burundi court rules to end power vacuum.

Joy, tears in Darfur as ICC arrests war crimes suspect.

Gambian man charged in US with torture of coup plotters.

Death toll from Tunisia migrant shipwreck rises to 54.

EUROPE

Belarus president accuses election rival of corruption after raid.

Sweden and Poland are the only two European countries that have NOT passed their coronavirus peak.

Putin makes first public appearance in weeks of lockdown in Russia.

Russia’s coronavirus cases just passed 500,000 — but it’s easing lockdown fast.

Brexit: full controls on goods entering UK will not apply until July 2021.

UK economy shrank more than 20% in April amid Covid-19 lockdown.

'Shameful' to threaten Churchill statue, says UK PM Johnson.

Coronavirus: Italy prosecutors quiz PM Conte on crisis.

French police dump handcuffs in protest to rebuff critics.

AMERICAS

Coronavirus hitting the Americas hardest says World Health Organization.

Downplaying virus risk, Trump gets back to business as usual.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says US economy can't shutdown again despite fears of a second wave of COVID-19 infections as cases hit record daily highs in Texas and Florida.

George Floyd: Trump told to back off Seattle's Chaz police-free zone. Seattle mayor says illegal for Trump to send military to clear protesters.

Scoop: John Bolton to argue Trump misconduct.

Federal debt tops $26 trillion for first time; Jumps $2 trillion in just 63 days.

Republicans release newly declassified intelligence document on FBI source Steele.

Trump campaign asks supporters to sign coronavirus waiver ahead of rally.

Mexico president clashes with governors on reopening.

Forecasters watching tropical wave disturbance in Caribbean.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

France launches Sahel coalition to fight rising jihadi violence.

Taliban, US spar over al-Qaeda presence in Afghanistan.

'Cyber jihadi' sentenced to 5 years in Germany.

Terrorists aren’t staying in jail as long as you might think.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Stocks bounce higher on Wall Street a day after big rout.

Zoom admits cutting off activists' accounts in obedience to China.

Twitter removes state-linked accounts used by China, Russia and Turkey.

Coronavirus: wheels come off China’s mask-making gravy train, as low-end manufacturers count their losses.