Havana, Cuba | AFP | Workers of the world scaled back their traditional May Day demos Friday with coronavirus lockdowns forcing many to rally online while a determined few hit the streets in face masks. There were arrests in the Philippines, Russia, Chile and Turkey, a riot in Indonesia and pepper …
Read More »US states loosen lockdowns as virus drug approved
Washington, United States | AFP | More US states eased pandemic lockdown measures on Friday even as coronavirus deaths rose, while American authorities greenlighted an experimental drug for emergency use on patients. Washington also renewed its warnings to Beijing a day after President Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on China, …
Read More »Serie A clubs unanimous in desire to finish season
Milan, Italy | AFP | Italy’s Serie A clubs on Friday reiterated their unanimous desire to complete the football season interrupted amid the coronavirus crisis. The emergency Lega Serie A assembly via video of the 20 top flight clubs came after Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were “increasingly narrow”. …
Read More »England’s deprived areas suffer more virus deaths
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The death rate from coronavirus in England is more than twice as high among people in disadvantaged areas, according to official data published Friday. There were 55.1 deaths per 100,000 people involving coronavirus in the areas with the worst rankings for income, health, education and …
Read More »WHO targets teens on social media to debunk virus myths
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization said Friday it was working with social media companies in a bid to quash misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic — including on more light-hearted apps popular with teenagers. The WHO said it had started working with TikTok and Snapchat since the …
Read More »Tanzania opposition MPs to ‘isolate’ after string of deaths
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP | Tanzania’s main opposition party on Friday asked its lawmakers to stop attending parliament sessions and isolate themselves after three MPs died of unknown causes in the past 11 days. Freeman Mbowe, the chairman of the opposition Chadema party, has repeatedly accused the government of covering up the true …
Read More »WHO wants invite to China’s probe into virus origins
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization said Friday it hoped China would invite it to take part in its investigations into the animal origins of the novel coronavirus. “WHO would be keen to work with international partners and at the invitation of the Chinese government to participate in …
Read More »UK universities hit by virus outbreak fallout
London, United Kingdom | AFP | With conferences cancelled and revenues hit because of a lack of rent from student accommodation, Britain’s universities are reeling from the global coronavirus pandemic. Schools have already lost millions of pounds thanks to enforced closures under lockdown, and things could get worse still. “British universities …
Read More »Yachts, wine cellars, private jets: isolating with the super-rich
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Stranded on superyachts or confined to their sprawling mansions worrying about their wine cellars, the world’s super rich have invited ridicule throughout the coronavirus pandemic with their apparent insensitivity to the plight of ordinary people. “Sunset last night… isolated in the Grenadines avoiding the virus. …
Read More »Trump says evidence ties China lab to virus, threatens tariffs
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened China with fresh tariffs as he stepped up his attacks on Beijing over the coronavirus crisis, saying he had seen evidence linking a Wuhan lab to the contagion. The diatribe from the Republican incumbent came as data showed …
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