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Kevin McCarthy. Alex Brandon / AP  

The mid-term election 

The election result McCarthy is headed for loss in the US presidential election  

Republican Kevin McCarthy is unlikely to become the next president of the United States after five party colleagues opposed the nomination, NBC News reports.  

This means that he needs support from the Democratic side to secure the post - something that is highly unlikely.  

Although McCarthy belongs to the more conservative phalanx of the Republicans, he is challenged by a small group of more extreme members who would rather see Steve Scalise as Speaker.  

The House of Representatives now appears headed for a new vote for the first time in 100 years, and the hunt for a new speaker could be chaotic. The Republicans' narrow majority of 222 members against the Democrats' 212 means that great unity is required in the party.   

World War II monument in Warsaw. Czarek Sokolowski / AP 

Germany refuses talks with Poland about war reparations  

Germany has rejected the Polish government's request for war reparations for World War II, the Polish Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters.  

Poland has estimated the cost of the damage at the equivalent of 14,000 billion kroner, and last autumn requested official talks with Germany.  

"The German government does not intend to negotiate on the matter", writes the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but adds that the government will continue to pursue the issue.  

 

Air travelers in Beijing. Andy Wong / AP  

The coronavirus infection in China  

Majority of EU countries want to test China travelers  

An "overwhelming majority" of the EU's 27 member states want passengers from China to be tested for covid-19 before entry, according to the European Commission, according to AFP.  

The announcement was made after the Union's health ministers held a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. On Wednesday, a crisis meeting will be held, which Sweden has called in its capacity as chairman, where decisions will be made on possible joint EU measures.  

The EU countries' concern is that a sudden influx of Chinese travelers when the country's borders open on Sunday could lead to the spread of new variants.  

The concern also applies to what is perceived as insufficient Chinese data and information regarding the outbreak in the country.