Friday June 12
UK economy shrinks by record 20.4% in April lockdown.
BAME review: call to publish COVID protection advice.
India’s coronavirus caseload ranks fourth in the world as infections near 300,000.
Indonesia’s suspected child coronavirus deaths highlight danger.
US coronavirus: Experts predict deaths are to go down before a sharp rise in September.
UK economy shrinks by record 20.4% in April lockdown
BBC News says the UK’s economy shrank by 20.4% in April – the largest monthly contraction on record – as the full impact of the lockdown was felt.
The monthly decline was outlined in figures reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The fall is three times greater than the decline seen during the whole of 2008 to 2009 economic downturn.
The ONS also published figures for the three months from February to April, which showed a decline of 10.4%.
Read the full story on BBC News
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BAME review: call to publish COVID protection advice
The Guardian says a report with advice for the government on how to protect black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities from coronavirus has not yet been published, a senior academic said.
The safeguarding proposals were drawn up in a separate document to the review published last week showing that Covid-19 kills disproportionately high numbers of people from ethnic minorities which prompted criticism from MPs over the absence of any recommendation or guidance.
Read the full story on The Guardian
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India’s coronavirus caseload ranks fourth in the world as infections near 300,000
France24 says India reported a total of 297,535 coronavirus infections on Friday after its latest single-day spike, surpassing the United Kingdom to become the country with the fourth-highest number of cases in the world.
The number of infections increased by 10,956 on Friday from the previous day and the death toll reached 8,498, India’s ministry of health and family welfare said. The death toll increased 396 in the past 24 hours.
Read the full story on France24
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Indonesia’s suspected child coronavirus deaths highlight danger
Aljazeera says Hundreds of children in Indonesia are believed to have died from COVID-19, giving the Southeast Asian country one of the world’s highest rates of child deaths from the novel coronavirus, which experts around the world say poses little danger to the young.
Paediatricians and health officials in the world’s fourth-most-populous country said the high number of child deaths from a disease that mostly kills the elderly was due to underlying factors, in particular malnutrition, anaemia and inadequate child health facilities.
Read the full story on Aljazeera
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US coronavirus: Experts predict deaths are to go down before a sharp rise in September
CNN says The US surpassed 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases as experts predicted Thursday that tens of thousands more people will get infected and die in the months ahead.
More than 113,700 people have died from Covid-19 in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University.
An influential model cited by the White House issued the dire prediction, saying the US death toll could reach 169,890 by October 1, with a possible range of about 133,000 to 290,000 deaths.
Read the full story on CNN
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A quick look at the other top stories from around the world
US to reduce troops in Iraq over the coming months
Arab News says the United States promised Thursday to reduce troops from Iraq over the coming months after talks with Baghdad, where lawmakers have pushed for their withdrawal.
Far-right extremist given 21-year jail term for Norway Mosque attack
EuroNews says a far-right extremist in Norway was found guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison on Thursday for killing his Chinese-born stepsister and then opening fire on an Oslo mosque.
Philip Manshaus, 22, started shooting at the al-Noor Islamic Centre in Baerum last August during Eid al-Adha celebrations.
Burundi cabinet wants court to declare presidency vacant
AfricaNews says Burundi will seek constitutional interpretation on how to proceed over the power vacuum created by the death of president Pierre Nkurunziza on June 8.
The First Vice-President chaired an extraordinary Council of Ministers – cabinet – meeting which agreed to refer the issue to the apex court.
Yemen’s government demands UN action regards Houthi violation of deal
Arab News says Yemen’s government has demanded UN action against Iran-backed Houthi militants for violating the Hodeidah deal, state news agency Saba New reported.
North Korea says little reason to maintain Kim-Trump ties on summit anniversary
CNA says North Korea sees little use in maintaining a personal relationship between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on the two-year anniversary of the leaders’ first summit.
