London, United Kingdom | AFP | One of Britain’s biggest airlines, Flybe, collapsed Thursday with passengers left stranded as the coronavirus epidemic takes a heavy toll on air travel around the world. A statement on Flybe’s website said the no-frills airline, which employs 2,000 people, had entered administration and could not …
Read More »California virus crisis as cruise ship held, funding deal struck
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | California declared a state of emergency over the novel coronavirus Wednesday as a cruise ship was held off the coast over fears of a new outbreak. Separately, the federal government said it was going to buy 500 million respirators to stockpile for use by …
Read More »Biden, once counted out, rebounds on Super Tuesday
Washington, United States | AFP | For a candidate left for dead just weeks ago, Joe Biden has scored a dramatic comeback in the Democratic White House race, capped by victories over chief rival Bernie Sanders in a majority of the 14 states contested on Super Tuesday. After going zero for …
Read More »Coronavirus quarantine could spark an online learning boom
However, there are no mandatory standards for online education | CARLO PERROTTA | The spread of the coronavirus disease known as COVID-19 is a public health emergency with economic and social ramifications in China and across the world. While the impacts on business are well documented, education is also facing …
Read More »Biden seizes momentum with strong Super Tuesday
Houston, United States | AFP | Joe Biden seized the momentum in the race to become the Democratic challenger to President Donald Trump with a string of Super Tuesday victories against leftist rival Bernie Sanders after his candidacy had seemed close to collapse. A self-described democratic socialist who wants to reshape …
Read More »OPEC to try to stem oil price plunge amid coronavirus slowdown
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The OPEC club of oil-producing countries meets Thursday in Vienna as they weigh how to react to a sharp drop in global oil demand due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. The extraordinary two-day meeting will see OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, and its …
Read More »Air pollution ‘pandemic’ shortens lives by 3 years: study
Paris, France | AFP | A ‘pandemic’ of air pollution shortens lives worldwide by nearly three years on average, and causes 8.8 million premature deaths annually, scientists said Tuesday. Eliminating the toxic cocktail of molecules and lung-clogging particles cast off by burning oil, gas and coal would restore a full …
Read More »App that detects jaundice in newborns could save lives in Asia and Africa
Washington, United States | AFP | A smartphone app that lets users check the eyes of newborn babies for jaundice may be an effective, low-cost way of identifying which cases need treatment, scientists reported Monday. Jaundice, a liver problem which causes the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow, …
Read More »Putin proposes to enshrine God, heterosexual marriage in constitution
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted to parliament a number of proposed constitutional changes, including amendments that mention God and stipulate that marriage is a union of a man and woman. Putin unleashed a political storm in January by proposing an overhaul of the constitution, the …
Read More »Virus death toll tops 3,000 as airlines cut flights
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The global death toll from the new coronavirus topped 3,000 on Monday, as airlines cancelled or reduced flights and stock markets swung wildly. Andorra, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Jordan, Latvia, Portugal, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia were among countries that confirmed their first cases, along with Senegal, …
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