International

Wuhan tests nearly 10 million people, finds only 300 infections

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China tested almost 10 million people for coronavirus in just over two weeks in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic began, officials said Tuesday, reporting only a few hundred positive cases. Chinese authorities claim to have largely brought the virus under control but Wuhan officials — wary of a second wave — launched the program after new infections emerged for the first time since the city re-opened in April following more […]

First Rohingya refugee dies from coronavirus in Bangladesh: official

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFP) — A 71-year-old man has become the first Rohingya living in vast refugee camps in Bangladesh to die from the coronavirus, an official said Tuesday. “He died on May 31. But last night we got the confirmation that he died of COVID-19,” said Toha Bhuiyan, a senior health official in the Cox’s Bazar district. The man, who lived in the Kutupalong camp, was among at least 29 Rohingya to have tested positive […]

US records 743 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Monday recorded 743 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, bringing its total to 105,099 since the global pandemic began. The country has officially logged 1,809,109 cases of COVID-19, the tracker set up by the Baltimore-based university showed at 8:30pm (0030 GMT Tuesday). The death toll and number of cases in the United States are by far the worst in […]

Wuhan doctor at whistleblower’s hospital dies from coronavirus

BEIJING, China (AFP) — A Wuhan doctor who worked with coronavirus whistleblower Li Wenliang died of the virus last week, state media reported Tuesday, becoming China’s first COVID-19 fatality in weeks. Hu Weifeng, a urologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, died on Friday after being treated for COVID-19 and allied issues for more than four months, state broadcaster CCTV said. He is the sixth doctor from Wuhan Central Hospital to have died from the virus, which […]

Back to school in masks as Singapore eases virus curbs

SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Pupils wearing face masks returned to school in Singapore on Tuesday and some workplaces re-opened as coronavirus restrictions were eased in the hard-hit city-state. Singapore initially kept infections low through a strict regime of testing and contact-tracing, only for major outbreaks to emerge from crowded dormitories housing low-paid foreign workers. The country has recorded over 35,000 cases — the highest official tally in Southeast Asia — with the vast majority among […]

DR Congo reports fresh Ebola outbreak

KINSHASA, DR CONGO (AFP) — DR Congo on Monday reported a fresh Ebola outbreak in the country’s northwest, just weeks before it hoped to declare the end of another epidemic in the east. The appearance of the deadly disease on the other side of the vast central African country comes as an added blow as it attempts to also battle the coronavirus pandemic. Health Minister Eteni Longondo said that “four people have already died” from […]

UK records lowest death toll of lockdown as restrictions ease

  by Charlotte DURAND and Dmitry ZAKS Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Younger children went back to schools in England on Monday as Britain began to stir back to life, while the government reported the lowest coronavirus death toll since the start of the national lockdown in late March. Outdoor markets also swung open their gates and car showrooms tried to lure back customers and recoup losses suffered since Britain effectively shut […]

Storm Amanda leaves at least 18 dead in Central America

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AFP) — Emergency workers were searching for seven people still missing Monday as El Salvador and its Central American neighbors picked through the destruction after the first named Pacific storm of the year left at least 18 people dead. Rescue teams were trying to locate the missing in floodwaters caused by torrential rain and high winds after Storm Amanda swept in from the Pacific on Sunday, El Salvador’s Interior Minister Mario […]

Top doctor sparks row with claim virus ‘no longer exists’ in Italy

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Top scientists, health officials and the WHO on Monday rushed to counter claims made by a leading Italian doctor who said the new coronavirus “no longer exists” in the country. The row came as Italy prepared the next stage of its gradual easing of a national lockdown imposed three months ago to fight the spread of the deadly virus. “In reality, the virus clinically no longer exists in Italy,” said Alberto […]

New York mayor declares 11pm city curfew amid protests

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York’s mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday declared a city curfew from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am, as anti-racism protests grip the United States with regular outbreaks of violence and looting. Saying that “we support peaceful protest,” De Blasio said he made the decision in consultation with the state’s governor Andrew Cuomo, following the lead of many large US cities. In a joint statement the mayor and governor […]

Mexico tops 10,000 COVID-19 deaths: government

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexico’s tally of confirmed COVID-19 deaths passed 10,000 on Monday, the health secretary said. News of the updated toll — now 10,167 — came as Mexico announced it was gradually reopening its economy by reactivating its automotive, mining and construction sectors. © Agence France-Presse

#EBCphotojournalism: Protesters converge on White House, call for end to police brutality

WASHINGTON (Eagle News) — After another night of protests, that sometimes included looting, vandalism and violence, demonstrations that weren’t as violent but nonetheless passionate continued in the the nation’s capital on Monday afternoon, June 1, 2020. Protesters gathered in front of Lafayette Square, the park directly in front of the White House, to express their frustrations over racism and police brutality in the U.S. Protests like this were sparked by the death of an unarmed […]