WORLD

Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia threatened Tuesday to take China to the World Trade Organisation to counter a fresh round of punitive sanctions, as the two countries clashed over an investigation into the origins and spread of the coronavirus. Canberra said it may seek remedial action to overturn almost 81 …

Nicosia, Cyprus | AFP |  Hiding snacks under their beds or behind piles of clothes, young Tunisians are finding ways to subvert the Ramadan fast — despite being locked down with their Muslim conservative parents. The generation gap in religious observance is not new but it took on a new dimension …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP |  The World Health Organization said it would launch an independent review of its response to the coronavirus pandemic as US President Donald Trump renewed his attack on the global body, branding it a “puppet of China”. Washington is locked in an increasingly bitter spat with Beijing …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP |  The wildfire season in the western United States is shaping up to be even more challenging this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced firefighters to rethink how they respond to disaster while also protecting themselves. “We’re focused on COVID-19, we’re focused …

Washington, United States | AFP |  A half-trillion-euro European fund laid out by France and Germany sparked optimism Monday about fighting economic fallout from the coronavirus, as did encouraging early results on vaccine research by a US biotech firm. Global markets surged as Europe pushed towards normality with major landmarks reopening …

Washington, United States | AFP | The US economy is showing “encouraging signs” and there’s no need for another spending package to combat the downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a White House advisor said on Monday. “If the economy recovers slower than we expect, then it’s possible we’ll have to put some more cash …

Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israel’s new foreign minister said Monday that US President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace proposal offered an “historic opportunity” but that regional peace deals must be maintained during its implementation. Gabi Ashkenazi, who became the Jewish state’s top diplomat when a new unity government was sworn …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | China supports an “comprehensive evaluation” of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic after it “has been brought under control”, President Xi Jinping told the World Health Assembly on Monday. Xi told the virtual meeting via video that China has “always had an open, transparent and responsible attitude”, and had …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Monday the growth in new coronavirus cases had been stopped as Russia reported under 9,000 infections for the first time since the beginning of the month. With more than 290,000 cases as of Monday, Russia has recorded the world’s largest number …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The coronavirus pandemic should serve as a “wake-up call” to the world which must be more united in responding to the crisis, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Monday. The secretary-general said COVID-19 was the “greatest challenge of our age” and had demonstrated the world’s fragility, as …