The UK’s latest surge in coronavirus infections gathered pace Thursday with new confirmed cases rising above 10,000 for the first time in nearly four months as a result of the spread of the more contagious delta variant, AP reported. Government figures showed another 11,007 cases were reported.

Northern Ireland's biggest parties agreed on Thursday to back a replacement for former First Minister Arlene Foster, staving off a fresh political crisis in the British-run region that threatened to lead to a snap election, Reuters reported. Foster resigned on Monday following her ousting as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Her successor, Edwin Poots, is seeking to nominate his social conservative colleague Paul Givan to take over as first minister and has until Monday to secure support of other parties in the power-sharing government.

The Western alliance must respond to China's economic, political and military rise and the final NATO summit statement will present a new strategy towards Beijing, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday ahead of the Aliance summit in Brussels.

Switzerland on Sunday rejected proposals that would have made it the first European country to ban synthetic pesticides, AFP reported. Voters heeded the government’s advice and rejected the two publicly-proposed initiatives that would have changed the landscape for Swiss farming. A double majority of voters and cantons is required to push through popular initiatives and with results declared so far in 22 of the 23 full cantons, a majority in 21 have said no to the plans. The percentage of votes against the proposals was running at 62%.

British PM Boris Johnson is expected to confirm on Monday that the next planned relaxation of coronavirus restrictions in England will be delayed as a result of the spread of the delta variant first identified in India, news wires reported. While hosting the Group of Seven summit in southwest England, Johnson conceded over the weekend that he had grown more pessimistic about the government lifting remaining limits on social contact on 21 June after daily cases reported across the UK hit levels not seen since February.

Switzerland votes Sunday on proposals to ban synthetic pesticides following a campaign that has shattered the idyllic image of peaceful Swiss Alpine pastures by sharply dividing opinion. The Swiss are also voting on a series of hot topics, including anti-terror measures and Covid-19 laws, AFP reports. Results will be known before the end of the day.

UK’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 downturn gained speed in April as lockdown measures were eased and industrial activity returned to pre-pandemic levels, Reuters reported. Figures released from the Office for National Statistics confirmed that output edged up 27.6% from a year earlier when the country was practically halted by restrictions.

UK PM Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden will sign a new Atlantic charter in an attempt to show that both countries leaderships plan to frame a post-Covid order in a way the original 1941 charter prefigured a new world order after the Second world war, British media reported.

The Vatican is making progress in the fight against money laundering, according to financial transparency experts from the Council of Europe, dpa reported. "Since the last evaluation, the Holy See/Vatican City State has taken steps to improve its anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism framework," a report published by the Council of Europe"s expert committee Moneyval against money laundering and terrorism finance on Wednesday, said.

Thousands of police have been drafted in from across Britain to beef up security for what organisers promise will be disruptive and "annoying" protests when G7 leaders gather for a summit this week.