by Patrick GALEY Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — COVID-19 is expected to cause global energy emissions to fall a record eight percent this year due to an unprecedented drop in demand for coal, oil and gas, the International Energy Agency said Thursday. The IEA’s Global Energy Review was based on an analysis of electricity demand over more than 100 days, during which much of the world has entered lockdown in a bid to control the […]
Tag: Virus
Washington state relaxes restrictions on recreational activities
Eagle News — Washington was the one of the first state to have reported cases of COVID-19, with the city of Seattle being the first to issue a lockdown in the United States. With 14,070 confirmed cases throughout the state of Washington, there’s a visible flattening of the curve. Because of these developments, Washington state government is confident in releasing and relaxing some of the lockdown restrictions when it comes to outdoor recreation. Although the […]
Japan to extend state of emergency over virus: reports
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to extend a nationwide state of emergency imposed over the coronavirus, possibly by another month, local media reported on Thursday. The measure was initially declared on April 7 across seven regions experiencing a spike in infections, but was later expanded to cover the entire country. With the initial month-long period coming to an end next week after the country’s annual Golden Week holidays, local […]
France in recession as virus-hit economy shrinks 5.8 percent
by Joseph Schmid Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The French economy officially fell into recession after contracting 5.8 percent in the first quarter, the national statistics office said Thursday, underscoring the massive toll of the country’s nationwide shutdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak. Even though the business closures and stay-at-home orders were imposed only the final two weeks of the quarter, the drop-off in activity was a hammer blow that has put more […]
South Korea reports zero new domestic coronavirus cases
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea reported zero new locally transmitted coronavirus cases Thursday, the first time no infections have been recorded since the disease was detected in the country more than 70 days ago. Health authorities reported one new death, taking the toll to 247. The country has seen 10,765 cases since its first infection was reported on February 18. For a time it had the world’s second-largest outbreak before the spread was […]
Indian mechanic invents ‘social distancing’ motorbike
AGARTALA, India (AFP) — An Indian school drop-out has built a motorbike with a one-meter gap between the rider and the passenger to drive home the importance of social distancing in the coronavirus pandemic. Partha Saha, 39, bought an old bike from a scrap dealer, removed the engine and cut the machine in two before affixing a rod slightly longer than a meter (3.2 feet) to connect the wheels. “Now I can ride with my […]
‘Don’t waste a minute’: Chinese firm readies mass vaccine production
by Patrick BAERT Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — A researcher in a lab coat in Beijing holds up the hopes of humanity in his fingers: “Coronavac”, an experimental vaccine against the coronavirus that has upended the world. Sinovac Biotech, which is conducting one of the four clinical trials that have been authorized in China, has claimed great progress in its research and promising results among monkeys. While human trials have just started, the […]
Despite virus outbreaks, US meat plants told to stay open
by Juliette MICHEL Agence France-Presse Video report by Eagle News International NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — US slaughterhouses are being forced to stay open on government orders despite deadly coronavirus outbreaks among workers, as authorities move to ensure supermarkets are fully stocked with meat. President Donald Trump signed the executive order on Tuesday under the Defense Production Act, a law designed for use in wartime to divert private business for defense and security needs. Several […]
UK plans mass singalong for locked-down VE Day
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britons will be urged to join a national singalong from their doorsteps and hold 1940s-style tea parties to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day or Victory in Europe Day, under a coronavirus-appropriate programme unveiled Wednesday. Queen Elizabeth II will make a televised address to the nation on May 8 to mark the day the Nazis surrendered, bringing an end to World War II in Europe. It will be followed […]
Rare inflammatory syndrome seen in children with COVID-19
by Issam AHMED with Paul Ricard in Paris Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Children have largely been spared the worst of COVID-19, but there may be a rare complication — an inflammatory syndrome that one doctor described as causing patients to feel like “every blood vessel in the body is on fire.” Britain’s National Health Service first sounded the alarm over the weekend, warning about a small rise in children infected with […]
US records 2,502 coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours: tracker
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States recorded 2,502 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the latest real-time tally on Wednesday reported by Johns Hopkins University. After two days of a relative easing in the toll on Sunday and Monday, the numbers have spiked again the past two days. At least 60,853 people have now died in the country, according to the Baltimore-based university. © Agence France-Presse
France reports 427 more coronavirus deaths, toll tops 24,000
PARIS, France (AFP) — France on Wednesday reported 427 more deaths from COVID-19 to push the total above 24,000 but it also saw new declines in the numbers of patients in the hospital and intensive care. The total number of deaths in hospitals and nursing homes from the virus in France is now 24,087, the health ministry said in a statement. The daily toll was slightly higher than the 367 deaths announced on Tuesday. But […]





