WORLD

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | It could take up to four years for Emirates airline’s operations to return “to some degree of normality”,  its president said Monday, a day after it announced job cuts over the coronavirus crisis. The Middle East’s largest carrier, which has a 100,000-strong staff and a fleet of 270 …

Rome, Italy | AFP | Pope Francis stepped up his battle against corruption in the Vatican Monday with a new law aimed at boosting transparency in tenders and cutting costs as a post-coronavirus recession hits. Convicted mobsters and those guilty of tax fraud are among a list of undesirables now unable to pocket contracts. The …

Paris, France | AFP | Banned in some countries, promoted in others — the drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for the new coronavirus is dividing opinion worldwide. Scientists looking to find licenced medicines that could be repurposed as a treatment for COVID-19 had started tests of hydroxychloroquine, normally used to …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | World champion Lewis Hamilton criticised the “biggest of stars” in “white-dominated” Formula One for failing to speak out against racism as protests erupted around the United States. The Mercedes driver warned “I know who you are and I see you” as he accused his fellow drivers of “staying silent” …

Brasília, Brazil | AFP | Confirmed coronavirus cases in Latin America have surged past one million, while hard-hit Britain and Russia eased lockdowns Monday, despite not having their outbreaks fully under control. Governments around the world are moving to ease restrictions that have wrecked their economies, even as the number of …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | NBA icon Michael Jordan decried “ingrained racism” in America Sunday as the sports world’s reaction to the death of unarmed black man George Floyd leapt leagues and continents. “I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry,” Jordan said in a statement Sunday, as …

Washington, United States | AFP | NASA astronauts entered the International Space Station on Sunday after a landmark 19-hour journey on the first crewed US spacecraft in nearly a decade, a triumph for SpaceX and private enterprise. The arrival completed the first leg of the trip, designed to test the capabilities …

Moscow, Russia | AFP |  Moscow space officials on Sunday said they were puzzled by “hysteria” around the successful SpaceX flight as Elon Musk taunted Russia and US President Donald Trump vowed to beat it to Mars. On Saturday, SpaceX made history by becoming the world’s first commercial company to send …

Moscow, Russia | AFP |  Russia has lost its long-held monopoly as the only country able to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station following the flawless manned launch by US company SpaceX. The Russian space agency congratulated the United States and Elon Musk’s SpaceX on the first crewed flight ever …

Moscow, Russia | AFP |  When Moscow authorities closed non-essential businesses to stop the spread of the coronavirus, Boris Kupriyanov began to personally deliver books to his customers. This, he said, has helped him and his indie bookstore survive over the past two months. “In many ways this has become our …