Wednesday Briefing: UK PM Johnson considered having COVID injection in early 2020, ex-adviser says

The Reuters Daily Briefing Wednesday, May 26, 2021 by Linda Noakes Hello Here's what you need to know. The U.S. steps up its pursuit of far-right activists, WhatsApp sues the Indian government, and a startling claim from Boris Johnson's former adviser Today's biggest stories FILE PHOTO: Asylum-seeking migrants from Romania hold their children after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico on a raft in La Joya, Texas, May 5, 2021. REUTERS/Adrees Latif U.S. Scores of Romanians who are part of the Roma ethnic minority have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in south Texas in recent weeks to seek asylum, highlighting the far-flung origins of some of the migrants who have contributed to border arrests reaching a 20-year high. The indictment of a far-right internet activist on charges of interfering with the 2016 U.S. election reflects a strategic shift by the Department of Justice and sets the stage for new cases against more prominent right-wing actors. Two Senate Democrats known for independent streaks urged Republicans to support a bipartisan commission into the deadly January attack on the Capitol, after one in six House Republicans broke with party leadership and backed the probe. Steve Bannon, the onetime top strategist for former President Donald Trump and recipient of a presidential pardon, won dismissal of an indictment accusing him of defrauding donors to a fund to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. A sign is seen during a protest outside Portcullis House, in Westminster, central London, May 26, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKay WORLD British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser said his ex-boss failed in the COVID-19 crisis and ministers fell “disastrously short” of the standards the public had a right to expect. Read our factbox on the accusations - including the startling charge that Johnson offered to be injected with COVID-19 live on television. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said a journalist pulled off a plane that landed in Minsk had been plotting a bloody rebellion, and accused the West of waging a hybrid war against him. Meanwhile, the journalist's girlfriend appeared in a video in which she made a confession that the opposition said looked forced. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged on a Middle East mission that Washington would provide new aid to help rebuild Gaza as part of efforts to bolster a ceasefire between its Islamist Hamas rulers and Israel. As the fighting ebbs, Israel's communities are eyeing each other warily. A powerful cyclone destroyed tens of thousands of mud houses in eastern India, forcing the closure of the busiest regional airport in the city of Kolkata as it brought storm surges to coastal areas, the second such event within a week. BUSINESS WhatsApp has filed a lawsuit in Delhi against the Indian government seeking to block regulations coming into force today that experts say would compel Facebook’s messaging app to break privacy protections, sources say. The showdown pitting Exxon Mobil against a tiny activist fund to determine the oil giant's board and future direction is too close to call, according to people familiar with the matter. Exxon has long fought to keep climate activists at bay, negotiating with big holders to supply details of its emissions and publicly supporting carbon reduction. China's banking regulator has asked lenders to stop selling investment products linked to commodities futures to mom-and-pop buyers, to curb investment losses amid volatile commodity prices. A lawyer for the European Union accused AstraZeneca of failing to respect its contract with the 27-nation bloc for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines and asked a Belgian court to impose a large fine on the company. Quote of the day "They are definitely not going to have a COVID-19 free event, that's for sure" Michael Baker Otago University professor Absurd to stage Tokyo Games, says professor of public health Video of the day Getting up close with cicadas After 17 years spent alone underground, billions of red-eyed cicadas are emerging across the U.S. East Coast. Scientists suspect their life cycles could be related to global warming. And finally… Thai girl plays for animals in deserted zoo Eleven-year-old Seenlada Supat says her voluntary weekly performances are giving her a chance to practice before a live audience and overcome stage fright. More from Reuters COVID-19 Investigations Breakingviews Legal News Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Share your thoughts You are receiving this email because you signed up for newsletters from Reuters. No longer want to hear from us? Unsubscribe from The Reuters Daily Briefing. Terms, conditions, and privacy statement © 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036