Russia's coronavirus death toll for April more than doubled shortly after the World Health Organization questioned how the country simultaneously has the world's third-highest number of cases and such a low mortality rate, The Washington Post reports.
Why it matters: Russia's mortality rates have come under growing scrutiny as the country's coronavirus case count continues to rise. Russian health care workers previously told the Post their hospitals are overwhelmed and lack resources they need. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin says the government has a firm grasp on the situation.
Thousands of protesters gathered for Black Lives Matters demonstrations in the U.K., Japan, France, Australia, Germany and elsewhere on Saturday, marking nearly three weeks of continual protests around the globe in response to the police killing of George Floyd.
Zoom in: In the U.S., new efforts to reform law enforcement have swept several cities and states in direct response to the protests, as budget cuts are pushed, stricter oversight is mandated and limits on use of force are legislated.
American Express gained greater access to China's spenders on Saturday after the People's Bank of China cleared the company to operate its card-clearing network in the mainland.
Our thought bubble, via Axios' Felix Salmon: Until now it has been hard for Chinese nationals to obtain a card that is accepted by a broad range of international merchants, and it has been almost impossible for non-Chinese nationals to obtain a card (or app) that is accepted by a broad range of Chinese merchants.
India reported over 11,000 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, a record high that follows a case spike earlier this week of just over 10,900, per Johns Hopkins data.
The big picture: India has extended its nationwide lockdown, which is now set to end on June 30, three times. However, the country moved in late May to allow restaurants, hotels and churches outside of hotspots to resume.
Beijing has entered "wartime mode," with police guards and lockdowns, after a number of confirmed coronavirus cases tied to the Chinese capital's largest wholesale food market has threatens to unleash a second wave of infections, The Washington Post reports.
Why it matters: This latest outbreak in China highlights the virus's ability to reappear as restrictions are lifted, AP notes. The fresh cases come more than 50 days after the last local case was confirmed.
Israeli-American billionaire Haim Saban advised UAE ambassador Yousef Al-Otaiba regarding his op-ed against Israeli annexation in the West Bank and assisted in publishing it in the Israeli press, Israeli sources told me.
Why it matters: Saban was one of Hillary Clinton’s main political backers and donors. He also has communication channels with President Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner. Saban and Al-Otaiba have known each other for many years and became friends.
President Trump signed an executive order Thursday authorizing economic sanctions and travel restrictions against workers from the International Criminal Court who are investigating American troops and intelligence officials for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
Why it matters: This is the ICC's first investigation of U.S. forces, and both Afghan and U.S. officials oppose it. The U.S. does not formally recognize the jurisdiction of the court, and the Trump administration is refusing to cooperate with the investigation.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted on Friday it's "absurd and shameful" that a statue of Winston Churchill is the target of protesters, adding that Churchill "was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial."
Why it matters: Demonstrations against racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd have gone global. As in the U.S., protesters in Britain have sought to challenge racism and imperialism in their country's past and have vandalized or even removed the statues of historic leaders now thought to be racist.
Yousef Al-Otaiba, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Washington, stressed in an op-ed published in an Israeli newspaper that Israeli annexation in the West Bank will destroy all efforts to achieve normalization between Israel and the Arab world — mainly the Gulf states.
Why it matters: The op-ed was an unprecedented message from a senior official in the UAE to Israeli public opinion through the Israeli press. Yediot Ahronot is a mainstream newspaper with the largest circulation in the country which speaks to a center-right audience.
