WORLD

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says that Russia has agreed to offer security assistance in the case of external military threats. Mr Lukashenko also voiced concerns over Nato military exercises taking place in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania. The news comes as the embattled president faces mass protests over the disputed 9 …

The US Postal Service (USPS) has warned that millions of mail-in votes may not arrive in time to be counted on the presidential election day, 3 November. In letters to states across the country last month, the agency said “certain deadlines… are incongruous with the Postal Service’s delivery standards”. Critics …

The Trump administration is moving to change American showerhead regulations so they can spray more water, addressing a long-held annoyance of US President Donald Trump, who says he needs more water to wash his hair. The US Department of Energy proposed revisions on Wednesday to regulations that dictate how much …

Sweden’s GDP fell more than its Nordic neighbours in the second quarter of 2020, dealing another blow to its lockdown-free coronavirus strategy. Sweden’s official statistics agency said that Sweden’s GDP fell by 8.6% in Q2. In comparison, Finland’s statistics body said that its Q2 GDP was down 3.2%, and Denmark’s …

At least 1,072 migrants were sailed to the edge of Greece’s water territory on inflatable life rafts and abandoned by Greek authorities, The New York Times reported. The Times analysed evidence from multiple sources, including academic researchers, the Turkish Coast Guard, and independent watchdogs groups. They found that there were at least …

Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to normalise relations, US President Donald Trump has announced. A joint statement by Mr Trump, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Al Nahyan said they hoped the “historic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East”. As a …

Nearly 1,500 new COVID-19 fatalities were reported on Wednesday, the highest single-day toll in three months, The Washington Post reported. The news comes just 48 hours after US President Donald Trump insisted that “the recent rise in cases has not been accompanied by a significant increase in deaths.” The seven-day average of new …

Italian news agencies report that previously conjoined twins have been baptised by Pope Francis in the Vatican City. Ervina and Prefina, whose skulls were fused together, underwent surgery there last month. Their mother Ermine Nzotto is from the Central African Republic (CAR). Soon after the operation, she told local media …

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has named Kamala Harris as his running mate – the first black woman and South Asian American in the role. Once a rival for the top job, the California senator of Indian-Jamaican heritage had long been considered the front-runner for the number two slot. The …

Brazil has recorded more 100,000 deaths linked to Covid-19, the world’s second-highest figure, as the outbreak in the country shows no sign of easing. The virus killed 50,000 people in three months, but that number doubled in just 50 days. There have been more than three million confirmed cases so …