Rome, Italy | AFP | From the elderly Italian woman who routinely lines up the glasses of water she sets herself to drink every day, to the British composer leading a virtual orchestra, life for Europeans under coronavirus lockdown is an uncharted mix of resilience and creativity. Hundreds of millions …
Read More »Oil prices volatile as virus saps demand
Singapore, Singapore | AFP | Oil prices were mixed in volatile Asian trade on Monday, but remained at multi-year lows due to the double shock of the coronavirus pandemic and the Saudi-Russia price war. Both main contracts plummeted at the open after a trillion-dollar support package for the American economy crashed …
Read More »Back to work in China virus epicentre as restrictions eased
Beijing, China | AFP | People in central China where the coronavirus was first detected are allowed to go back to work and public transport is restarting, as some normality slowly returns after a two-month lockdown. The easing of restrictions in Wuhan city comes as Chinese health officials reported Monday no …
Read More »Emirates reverses decision to suspend all passenger flights
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | Dubai carrier Emirates reversed on Sunday its decision to suspend all passenger flights, shortly after it said it would halt operations from March 25 amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The airline said it “received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation …
Read More »Bars closed? House parties and happy hours move online
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Coronavirus lockdown or not, Amaya Howard plans to unwind after a hard day’s work by sharing a few glasses of wine with her friends. But with bars closing across the United States, they have started meeting online via Houseparty — one of several group …
Read More »Will coronavirus slow the world’s conflicts — or intensify them?
United Nations, United States | AFP | Syria, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, the Sahel… with the great powers focused intently on the COVID-19 virus, will armed conflicts across the world decrease in severity or intensify? Experts as well as diplomats at the United Nations say there is a serious risk of the …
Read More »Dybala, Maldini test positive for coronavirus
Rome, Italy | AFP | Argentina striker Paulo Dybala said Saturday that he has become the third Juventus player to test positive for coronavirus while former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini revealed that he and his son have also been infected. “Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you know …
Read More »Virus chaos leaves English clubs fearing for their future
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Forced into lockdown by the coronavirus, English teams outside the lucrative Premier League are facing an unprecedented period of financial uncertainty. Championship, League One and League Two matches will not resume until April 30 at the earliest and even that date looks optimistic given the …
Read More »Negotiations lag on $1 trillion stimulus for virus-hit US
Washington, United States | AFP | US lawmakers urgently negotiating a $1 trillion emergency package to salvage an economy ravaged by the coronavirus missed a Republican-imposed deadline to reach an agreement by the end of Friday. Senate Republicans were seeking a rapid deal in order to hold a final vote Monday …
Read More »Country music legend Kenny Rogers dies at 81
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Country music legend Kenny Rogers, whose career spanned six decades, has died at the age of 81, his family said late Friday. “Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” they said …
Read More »