The Globalist

We report on the latest woes for Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as he battles to extend the country’s lockdown. Plus: a new Franco-German initiative to bring Paris and Berlin closer, and we meet the organiser of Hong Kong’s Gay Games.

As the World Health Assembly meets, we dissect the delicate diplomacy of public health and politics in Asia. Plus: the business decisions driving the reopening of Europe’s football leagues and a round-up of the week’s positive news stories.

Israel’s unity government is put on hold due to cabinet disputes, we examine the global manufacturing and supply chain and hear from Bulgaria’s Eurovision Song Contest entrant. Plus: what have the paparazzi been up to?

We look at plans from the European Commission for a phased reopening of borders in time for summer, discuss Jacinda Ardern’s leadership during the pandemic and get an update on the film industry.

An international row is simmering as Taiwan is barred from attending the World Health Assembly. Plus: the drastic rise in coronavirus cases in Russia and a look ahead to the weekend’s special Eurovision broadcast.

Donald Trump’s administration considers a second pandemic relief bill. Plus: we turn our gaze to Asia and discuss the coronavirus success stories in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the recent spikes in Seoul and China and Shinzo Abe’s legacy in Japan. Also we’ve got good news with Andrew Mueller and an architect tells us about the pandemic’s impact on the built environment.

As UK prime minister Boris Johnson lays down his lockdown exit strategy, we ask how it stacks up against the plans of other European countries. Plus: we hear from the president of CBC/Radio-Canada and ask whether Poland and Hungary are using coronavirus to push through undemocratic legislation.

The UK has the world’s second-highest coronavirus death toll. We look at how Boris Johnson is trying to tackle the outbreak. Plus: what we’ve learnt this week and the day’s technology headlines.

We get the latest from Germany as shops reopen after Angela Merkel says the goal of slowing the spread of coronavirus has been achieved. Plus: we hear about the “new normal” in South Korea.

The UK and the US begin the first round of post-Brexit trade talks and our science and health correspondent on France’s revelation that its first coronavirus case was in December. Plus: the US Supreme Court goes digital.