WORLD

Paris, France | AFP | When bestselling French novelist Leila Slimani — the author of “The Perfect Nanny” — admitted that she felt “a little like Sleeping Beauty” contemplating the coronavirus lockdown from the comfort of her country home, she hit a very raw nerve. Class tensions — never very far …

Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spain declared Monday a fourth consecutive drop in the number of coronavirus-related deaths with 637 over the past 24 hours, the lowest number in nearly two weeks. Fatalities, which were sharply down on the record 950 on Thursday, brought the total deaths in the country to 13,055, second only to …

Paris, France | AFP | More than 215,000 people have signed a petition urging French officials to let more doctors prescribe the anti-malaria drug chloroquine for coronavirus patients, a controversial proposal that has divided health experts worldwide. Support for the treatment has gained ground as doctors try to keep the COVID-19 …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Europe’s hardest-hit nations saw some tentative signs of hope in the fight against the coronavirus Monday but the United States braced for its “Pearl Harbor moment” as the country’s death toll raced towards 10,000. The virus has infected virtually every corner of the planet, confining …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent the night in hospital after being admitted for tests following 10 days of persistent symptoms of coronavirus, but the government insisted Monday he remained in charge. The Conservative leader announced on March 27 that he had tested positive for COVID-19, and has been …

Singapore, Singapore | AFP | Oil prices fell sharply Monday after a meeting to discuss output cuts between OPEC and its allies was delayed, dimming hopes of swift action to support coronavirus-ravaged energy markets. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate plunged eight percent at the open in Asia but clawed back some ground and was trading …

Brisbane, Australia | AFP | Cardinal George Pell will learn whether his appeal against child sex abuse convictions has been successful Tuesday, when Australia’s High Court hands down its judgement. The former Vatican treasurer is trying to overturn a six-year sentence for sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys at a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s. Pell, who …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken to hospital after failing to shake off coronavirus symptoms, as Queen Elizabeth II said a united effort would defeat the outbreak. The government announced within an hour of the monarch’s rare special address Sunday to the country and …

Amman, Jordan | AFP |  Jordan on Sunday started to deploy drones to fight the coronavirus pandemic, joining a host of Middle East countries using the technology to enforce curfews, deliver public health announcements and even monitor people’s temperatures. Jordan has declared five deaths and 323 cases of COVID-19 and says …

Washington, United States | AFP |  US Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday defended the firing of a naval commander whose plea for help for a coronavirus-affected crew angered his superiors but drew widespread public support. Esper told ABC that Navy Secretary Thomas Modly “made a tough decision, tough call” in …