WORLD

Washington, United States | AFP | South America is “a new epicenter” of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization has declared, as US President Donald Trump intensified his push to reopen the reeling American economy. Brazil led the surge across South America, its death toll passing 21,000 on Friday from …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain will reduce Chinese tech giant Huawei’s controversial involvement in its 5G network in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the Daily Telegraph reported Saturday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light to Huawei’s participation in January, despite widespread domestic opposition and pressure from the United States. But …

Ostseebad Binz, Germany | AFP |  Germans usually love their sun-soaked summer holidays abroad. But fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections have prompted a new holiday destination of choice: their home country. On a recent public holiday, it was only 17 degrees Celsius (62 degrees Fahrenheit) in the seaside resort …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP |  A group of teens in the Los Angeles area are paying it forward during the COVID-19 pandemic, making grocery runs for seniors — and learning some life lessons along the way. “This experience has been really great,” said 16-year-old Mira Kwon as she did …

Havana, Cuba | AFP |  The re-election of Donald Trump as  president of the United States would be “the worst” scenario for Cuba, Havana’s top diplomat in charge of relations with Washington told AFP. “If the Republicans win … it’s a very negative scenario,” said Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, the foreign …

Paris, France | AFP | A study of nearly 100,000 coronavirus patients has shown no benefit in treating them with anti-viral drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine and even increased the likelihood of them dying in hospital. Hydroxychloroquine is normally used to treat arthritis but pronouncement from public figures including US President Donald …

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | The Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, will begin on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, authorities in the kingdom said on Friday. “Saturday will be the last day of the sacred holy month of Ramadan and Eid …

Beijing, China | AFP | China warned Friday that its huge economy will suffer an immense hit from the coronavirus, as the ongoing pandemic and national lockdowns cause massive global job losses and Russia faces a steep increase in deaths. As Beijing’s communist rulers failed to set an annual growth target …

New York, United States | AFP | White House hopeful Joe Biden told an African-American radio host Friday that he “ain’t black” if he was unsure who to support in November’s election, igniting controversy and accusations of racism from President Donald Trump’s camp. The comments by the presumptive Democratic nominee came …

Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Thursday pressed for a broader reopening of the United States as coronavirus-related job losses mounted, while parts of Europe embraced post-lockdown life. With summer approaching on both sides of the Atlantic, more stores opened their doors and beaches welcomed tourists, despite …