WORLD

Paris, France | AFP | There will be 11,000 fewer deaths in European countries under coronavirus lockdown due to a sharp drop in fossil fuel pollution during April, according to research released Thursday. Measures to halt the spread of coronavirus have slowed the region’s economies to a crawl, with coal-generated power …

Copenhagen, Denmark | AFP | The World Health Organization’s European office warned Thursday that to keep other infectious diseases in check, vaccination programmes must remain a priority even during the coronavirus pandemic. The warning came as the UN body noted that while the spread of the novel coronavirus seemed to be “plateauing in western Europe, …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP |  Parisians Carole de la Cheneliere and Olivier Merleau were all set for their once-in-a-lifetime road trip down America’s famous interstates — but then, the pandemic struck. This Friday, they were due to arrive in Los Angeles, from where the open road would have carried …

Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP |  The European Central Bank could reiterate Thursday its power to do more still to cushion the eurozone economy from the impact of the novel coronavirus, analysts said, while maintaining pressure on governments to agree a joint response. ECB chief Christine Lagarde last week warned …

Belgrade, Serbia | AFP |  Before his death 40 years ago, Josip Broz Tito, the charismatic and controversial leader of former Yugoslavia, privately shared a “regret”, his grandson recalls. Speaking to AFP by phone, 72-year-old Joska, who proudly shares the name Josip Broz, summons the words of an illustrious grandfather who …

Washington, United States | AFP |  Presidential hopeful Joe Biden said Wednesday he has a proud history of campaigning against sexual violence, as he faces mounting pressure to respond to an assault allegation made by a former aide. The presumptive Democratic nominee has been accused by Tara Reade of assaulting her …

Tunis, Tunisia | AFP |  Amira Jamoussi, a doctor on the front line fighting the novel coronavirus in a hospital in Tunisia, is spending the Muslim holy month of Ramadan away from her family. “It’s been five weeks since I’ve held my children in my arms,” Jamoussi said, before putting on …

Genève, Switzerland | AFP | Nearly half of the entire global workforce is in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic, the International Labour Organization warned Wednesday. The ILO said the risk fell on those workers in the informal economy, and three-quarters of them, some 1.6 billion …

    Washington, United States | AFP | The decade of US economic expansion ended dramatically in the first quarter when GDP shrank 4.8 percent as the coronavirus hit, according to government data released Wednesday. It was the biggest decline in GDP in 12 years as the pandemic forced businesses to …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | When Russian cardiologist Alexei Erlikh and several colleagues started a project to keep track of medics who had died from the coronavirus, he never expected there would be so many names. Launched last week, the database already lists more than 70 dead doctors, nurses and lab …