Norwegians are heading to the polls in the main day of voting for a new parliament, after a campaign in which the future of a wealth tax that dates to the late 19th century has been a central issue.

Norway is holding an election for parliament with inequality and the future of a century-old wealth tax in focus.

Many Norwegians recall it all too well: politicians, residents and Norway’s royal family together mourning an act of home-grown mass violence in a nation where such tragedies are rare.

New Zealand’s prime minister says the government will start a pilot program of home-isolation for travelers, ahead of what she expects to be increasing vaccination levels.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she is prepared to call in medically trained National Guard members and retirees to address potential staffing shortages.

The inequity of COVID-19 vaccine distribution came into sharp focus Thursday as many of the African countries whose populations have little to no access to the life-saving shots stepped to the podium to speak at the U.N.’s annual meeting of world leaders.

Church bells pealed across Norway for the 10th anniversary of the country’s worst peacetime slaughter, as leaders urged renewed efforts to fight the extremism behind the attack that left 77 people dead.

Gavin Newsom's vision of a uniform COVID-19 vaccine network despite widespread pushback from local health offices. The state has already identified a site in Mesa that will replace the vaccination clinic at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Kate Brown announced she’ll accelerate Oregon’s COVID-19 vaccine eligibility timeline to allow vulnerable populations to receive shots ahead of May 1. Ron DeSantis says he’s opening COVID-19 vaccines to people age 50 and older on Monday. The governor’s announcement came a day after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he’s opening vaccination sites to anyone 40 and older.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker shows Alaska leading states in the percentage of its population to have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Larry Hogan said Tuesday, citing improving COVID-19 health metrics and increasing vaccinations. It was unclear what authority state officials might be able to exert on federal facilities. — County health officials in Wyoming have detected the coronavirus variant that originated in South Africa. Another 16 million doses are expected to be shipped by the end of the month.

Reaction from around the world to the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump:___“A fundamental rule of democracy is that, after elections, there are winners and losers. ——“The rampage at the Capitol yesterday was a disgraceful act and it must be vigorously condemned.” — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a historic turning point for the United States, and it is an attack on liberal democracy as a whole. — Donald Tusk, former European Union leader, former prime minister of Poland. Democracy presupposes peaceful protest, but violence and death threats —from Left or Right— are ALWAYS wrong.” — Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa.

Some leaders took time to recall the 1995 conference, detail domestic initiatives or lament that progress toward female equality is lagging or even retreating. The 1995 work of what was officially called the U.N.'s Fourth World Conference on Women is considered a signal moment in women's rights. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed to his country's 2017 law requiring some employers to provide 26 weeks of paid maternity leave. Still, many leaders, including some female ones, didn't devote much time or detail to women's issues in their speeches. In Norway, the prime minister, the parliament speaker and over 40% of parliamentarians and government ministers are women.

Greece will officially launch its tourism season Monday, June 15, 2020 after keeping the country's infection rate low. Italy opened its borders on June 3 and towns on the German-Polish border celebrated early Saturday as Poland opened the gates. Czech authorities will require arrivals from Sweden to show a negative COVID-19 test or to self-quarantine along with travelers from Portugal and Polands Silesia region. But the restrictions are based on objective criteria that are the same for everyone, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said. My appeal to all those who travel: Enjoy your summer vacation but enjoy it with caution and responsibility, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

But leaders of traditional allies of the United States have taken pains to avoid criticizing Trump directly. But at the top, the leaders of traditional allies of the United States have taken pains to avoid criticizing Trump directly, walking a fine line to reconcile international diplomacy with domestic outrage. German Chancellor Angela Merkel sidestepped questions from ZDF public television about Trump last week, saying the killing of Floyd was "really, really terrible. Trump, he has, amongst many other things, he is president of the United States, which is our most important ally in the world today, Johnson said. I share and stand in solidarity with the demonstrations that are taking place in the United States, he said.