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WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Software giant Microsoft will let employees work from home permanently if they choose to, US media reported on Friday, becoming the latest employer to expand work-from-home provisions prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Verge said most Microsoft employees are still at home as the health crisis drags on, and the company doesn’t expect to reopen its US offices until January of next year at the earliest. But when it […]
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain’s government on Friday declared a state of emergency in and around Madrid to enforce a partial lockdown to curb rampant virus infections, overriding opposition from the regional authorities. “The government has decided to declare a state of emergency… for the next 15 days,” said Health Minister Salvador Illa following an urgent cabinet meeting after the region’s top court shot down restrictions imposed on 4.5 million people in and around […]
by Sebastian Smith and Michael Mathes Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said he hopes to resume campaigning Saturday after receiving a green light from his doctor, even as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prepares to unveil plans to probe the president’s capacity to govern after contracting Covid-19. With just 26 days until the November 3 election, Washington’s top Democrat took the extraordinary step of proposing a commission to […]
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia registered a record daily number of new coronavirus infections on Friday, surpassing its previous high from May. Officials reported 12,126 new infections, edging above the previous high of 11,656 on May 11 and bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,272,238 — the fourth highest in the world. Widespread restrictions were lifted after new cases began to drop in May, and officials have shown no sign of moving […]
KINSHASA, DR Congo (AFP) — DR Congo said Thursday it would launch an inquiry into accusations that international workers in an anti-Ebola campaign had sexually abused local women. A report last month said dozens of women described sexual exploitation by aid workers from the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) and leading NGOs during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. “The Congolese government will act. We are going to set up […]
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China has signed up to a deal to ensure future Covid-19 vaccines are distributed to developing countries, the biggest economy yet to join the World Health Organization-led bid to control the pandemic. The COVAX pledge to get vaccines to poorer nations as soon as they are developed aims to head off fears rich countries will limit distribution of game-changing medicines made by their pharmaceutical companies. The deal gives China, the country […]
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — New cases of coronavirus infections in Germany have soared past 4,000, official data showed Thursday, reaching a daily level not seen since April 11 when the country was still in lockdown. Europe’s biggest economy recorded 4,058 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, including 16 deaths, according to latest data compiled by the disease control agency RKI. The alarming jump in numbers came with autumn school holidays about to begin, prompting calls […]
by W.G. Dunlop and Arthur MacMillan Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Mike Pence and Kamala Harris went head to head in the US vice presidential debate on Wednesday, sparring over issues including the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus, taxes and health care. AFP breaks down some of the main topics from the debate below. – Coronavirus response – Harris said US President Donald Trump and Pence knew about the dangers […]
BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil surpassed five million coronavirus infections on Wednesday and is approaching 150,000 deaths from the disease, amid optimism the virus is slowing in the hard-hit South American country. The Health Ministry reported 31,553 new infections in the previous 24 hours, registering a total of 5,000,694 cases overall, behind only the United States and India. Home to 212 million people, Brazil also counted 734 new deaths Wednesday, meaning the virus has claimed […]
by Christophe VOGT Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The UN refugee chief said Wednesday that he had tested positive for Covid-19 after leading the first day of the agency’s main annual meeting in person. Filippo Grandi, who kicked off UNHCR’s week-long Executive Committee meeting in Geneva on Monday, told participants via video-link that he would need to continue following the event from home. “I am engaging with UNHCR’s Executive Committee from home […]
by Sylvie LANTEAUME Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US commander-in-chief has Covid-19 and the top military brass are isolating as the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on the national security establishment of the most powerful nation in the world. As Covid-19 breached the walls of the Pentagon, the Defense Department was quick to stress on Tuesday that there had been “no change to the operational readiness or mission capability of […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Food and Drug Administration made public its guidance for issuing emergency approval for a Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday, making it clear it wants to see follow-up two months after trial volunteers have their second dose. It is therefore unlikely for President Donald Trump’s administration to have a vaccine on the market before the November 3 election, something the president frequently says is on the cards. “Data from Phase […]
