The number of people around the world who have been infected with the coronavirus has now passed 20 million. Johns Hopkins University in the US says more than a quarter of all cases have been recorded in the United States, a country worst affected by the pandemic. Emily Haller reports.
Nearly five months since the global pandemic was declared, many countries around the world are still struggling to control the spread of the virus. Along with the US, Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa are also suffering huge outbreaks. It was first recorded late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Since then, more than 700,000 people have died from COVID-19. But researchers say both infections and deaths may be under-reported in some parts of the world, like Brazil. Global restrictions have had a huge impact on the world economy. The International Monetary Fund says it will be the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
President Trump has praised the actions of the security service after an armed suspect was shot near the White House, prompting officers to abruptly remove him from a news conference. Mr. Trump was in mid-sentence when he was escorted from the podium. Minutes later he returned and told reporters that the suspect had been shot and taken to hospital.
There was a shooting outside of the White House and seems to be very well under control. I'd like to thank the Secret Service for doing their always quick and very effective work. But there was an actual shooting.
Police in Belarus say a demonstrator has died during a second night of protests after Sunday's disputed election victory for President Alexander Lukashenko. They say an explosive device went off in the man's hands as he tried to throw it at police in the capital Minsk. The state security service said it also thwarted an attempt on the life of the opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. She's rejected the election results and demanded a recount. Sergey Goryashko reports from Moscow.
After tense but relatively quiet day, the evening brought new escalation. Video reports coming from several locations in the center of Minsk are showing scenes of extreme violence. An armed protester can be seen thrown to the ground and kicked. One video shows what appears to be special forces operatives in full gear carrying lethal weapons running towards civilian protesters. One Belarusian media outlet reported their journalist had been shot and wounded.
The White House has urged the government in Belarus to allow peaceful assembly and refrain from force. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US was deeply concerned about the conduct of the presidential elections, which he said was not free and fair. Reaction in Russia was mixed.
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