Washington, United States | AFP | Former president Barack Obama has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it an “absolute chaotic disaster.” In a leaked web call Friday night with former members of his administration, Obama also said the Justice Department’s decision to …
Read More »TRUMP: I, for one, am glad to see Kim Jong U back, and well!
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was “glad” about the reappearance of Kim Jong Un and that the North Korea leader is apparently healthy. “I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well!” Trump tweeted, following Kim’s first public appearance …
Read More »US, China block UN resolution in spat over WHO handling of pandemic
United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States and China remained at loggerheads Thursday over a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for a 90-day humanitarian pause in conflicts worldwide in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The stalemate — over a mention of the World Health Organization — …
Read More »Oil falls on storage woes in virus-hit market
Singapore, Singapore | AFP | US oil prices fell heavily Monday on renewed concerns over storage capacity as the coronavirus throttles demand, even as producers start slashing output to boost markets. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate dropped 9.3 percent to $15.36 a barrel in Asian morning trade. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was off 3.2 …
Read More »Fifth of New Yorkers infected with coronavirus, antibody test suggests
Nueva York, United States | AFP | More than one in five New Yorkers may have already had the new coronavirus, a testing sample showed Thursday, suggesting infections are much higher than confirmed cases suggest. Widespread testing — including for antibodies — is viewed as key to American states …
Read More »Experimental virus drug remdesivir effective in monkeys: study
Washington, United States | AFP | The experimental antiviral drug remdesivir has proven effective against COVID-19 in a small experiment involving monkeys, US government scientists reported Friday. The study, which is preliminary and has not yet been peer reviewed, was designed to follow dosing and treatment procedures used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a large …
Read More »Republicans urge Trump to demand WHO chief quits
Washington, United States | AFP | Congressional Republicans on Thursday urged President Donald Trump to condition US funding for the World Health Organization on the resignation of its chief over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Seventeen Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said they had “lost faith” in …
Read More »Apple and Google team up on virus ‘contact tracing’ by smartphone
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Google and Apple unveiled a joint initiative Friday to develop a coronavirus smartphone “contact tracing” tool that could potentially alert people when they have crossed paths with an infected person. The move brings together the largest mobile operating systems in an effort to …
Read More »Despite virus, Pentagon warns enemies: don’t test us
Washington, United States | AFP | With an aircraft carrier forced into port and staff at bases handling nuclear missiles hit by COVID-19, the US military wants rivals to understand: don’t test us, we have not been weakened. Statement after statement from the Pentagon has sought to deliver that …
Read More »Uber to provide ‘tens of millions’ of masks in virus safety move
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Uber said Thursday it planned to give out “tens of millions” of masks to drivers worldwide as part of its efforts to boost safety amid the coronavirus pandemic. The global ridesharing giant said it shipped its first order of masks to drivers in …
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