Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Monday appeared to confirm that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is alive, saying he wished him well after days of speculation over the dictator’s whereabouts. Asked if he had new information about Kim’s health, Trump said “yes, I do have a very good …
Read More »Leading Democrat Pelosi endorses Joe Biden for US president
Washington, United States | AFP | Joe Biden won the endorsement for US president Monday of Nancy Pelosi, who hailed him as a “voice of reason” capable of leading America out of the coronavirus crisis. Pelosi was the last leading Democrat to endorse formally Biden’s run for the White House against Republican Donald Trump in …
Read More »Pandemic could create ‘human rights disaster’: UN
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The UN rights chief warned Monday that countries flouting the rule of law in the name of fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic risk sparking a “human rights disaster”. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on countries to refrain from violating fundamental rights …
Read More »Virus-hit British PM back to work with hope but no lockdown change
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday made his first public appearance since being hospitalised with coronavirus three weeks ago, saying Britain was beginning to “turn the tide” on the outbreak but rejecting growing calls to ease a nationwide lockdown. In a statement in Downing Street …
Read More »Ghostly airports but easy security checks: air travel in the time of the virus
Rapid City, United States | AFP | Ghostly airports, countless flight cancellations, shops and restaurants closed: the coronavirus has played havoc with air travel in the United States. Following are some scenes witnessed by AFP journalists during the unusual experience of flying from South Dakota to Washington in the time of …
Read More »Military spending saw biggest increase in a decade in 2019: study
Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Global military expenditure saw its biggest uptick in a decade in 2019, researchers said Monday, marking the first year two Asian countries were among the top three spenders. The world’s nations spent a combined $1.9 trillion (1.78 trillion euros) on their militaries in 2019, according …
Read More »North Korea’s Kim ‘alive and well’: Seoul
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is “alive and well”, a top security adviser to the South’s President Moon Jae-in said, downplaying rumours over Kim’s health following his absence from a key anniversary. Conjecture over Kim has grown since his conspicuous no-show at April 15 …
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 »‘We’re going out!’: Spanish kids reclaim streets after weeks indoors
Madrid, Spain | AFP | After six weeks stuck at home, Spain’s children were allowed out Sunday to run, play or go for a walk as the government eased one of the world’s toughest coronavirus lockdowns. Spain is among the hardest hit countries, with a death toll running at more than …
Read More »Lockdowns ease as global infections near 3 million
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spanish children were allowed outside on Sunday for the first time in six weeks as countries eased lockdown measures and reopen economies gutted by the coronavirus pandemic that has infected nearly three million people worldwide. Governments from France to Italy and the United States are gearing …
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