WORLD

Washington, United States | AFP | Two top US economic advisers on Sunday defended the need for an expeditious reopening of the economy even as the coronavirus reached into the White House despite the extraordinary precautions taken there. The comments by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and economic adviser Larry Kudlow came …

Singapore, Singapore | AFP | Oil prices were down in Asian trade Monday after big gains last week on signs of a demand revival as some governments ease coronavirus lockdown measures. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was down 2.95 percent to $24.01 a barrel in morning trade. International benchmark Brent was changing hands at …

Carlsbad, United States | AFP | Wait for an upturn, or pick up stakes and look for work elsewhere? That’s the dilemma facing oil workers around Carlsbad in New Mexico, where a brutal drop in petroleum prices has hit the local economy hard. Many oil workers in the arid southwestern state …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Would you put your slippers on display? The global coronavirus pandemic is still raging but museums are already gathering testimony and objects to remember life under lockdown. “It’s such an extraordinary experience,” Beatrice Behlen, senior curator at the Museum of London, told AFP. “When we …

Miami, United States | AFP |  The Ultimate Fighting Championship Saturday became the first major American sporting event held since the US coronavirus outbreak, with President Donald Trump congratulating the promoter. The controversial card put the UFC in the spotlight like never before, but did not go off without a hitch …

Athens, Greece | AFP |  At the foot of the Acropolis hill, in the touristic Koukaki district, the coronavirus lockdown has silenced the sound of Airbnb customers’ wheeled luggage. The tourist industry in Athens, as in many other European capitals, has ground to a halt, with planes grounded and restaurants, museums and archaeological …

Washington, United States | AFP |  Top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci is among three members of the White House’s coronavirus task force who will self-isolate after potential exposure to the pathogen, US media reported Saturday. On Friday, reports that Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary had tested positive heightened …

Beijing, China | AFP |  Like many couples in the era of social distancing, Ma Jialun and Zhang Yitong held their wedding ceremony online — but they added a twist by livestreaming the event to more than 100,000 strangers. Coronavirus lockdowns and travel restrictions have forced people around the world to …

Washington, United States | AFP |  In a world suddenly fearful of touch, voice technology is getting a fresh look. Voice-activated systems such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri have seen strong growth in recent years, and the virus pandemic could accelerate that, analysts say. Voice assistants are not …

Washington, United States | AFP |  One week after Sally realized she was pregnant, her home state Texas temporarily banned abortions, deeming them unnecessary elective procedures that were suspended because of the coronavirus crisis. So, the 34-year-old, whose name has been changed for this story to protect her privacy, took matters …