| schema:articleBody
| - Duty Editor: Emma Charlton Contact: emma.charlton@afp.com -- TOP STORIES -- + US states ease lockdown as toll rises + Biden denies sex assault allegation + Assault weapons banned in Canada + Mayday rallies muted by pandemic + NASA, SpaceX target historic flight Health-virus,WRAP WASHINGTON More US states ease pandemic lockdown measures even as death rates continue to rise, as the White House charges that China's "slow-walking" of coronavirus data put American lives at risk. 1000 words 2030 GMT by Sebastian Smith with AFP bureaus. Picture. Video. Graphic US-politics-vote-Biden,WRAP WASHINGTON US presidential candidate Joe Biden emphatically denies sexually assaulting a former aide, saying the incident she said occurred 27 years ago "never happened." 700 words 2000 GMT by Michael Mathes. Graphic. Picture. Video Canada-politics-guns,WRAP OTTAWA Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces an immediate ban on military-grade assault weapons in response to the country's deadliest-ever mass shooting, a rampage that left 22 people dead last month. 600 words 2000 GMT by Jacques Lemieux. File picture Health-virus-demonstration-MayDay,WRAP HAVANA City squares are largely silent as May Day in the era of coronavirus lockdowns feature little of the clamor of traditionaal workers' demos, with most people heeding government pleas to stay home and rally online. 800 words 2130 GMT. Picture. Video Space-US-NASA-SpaceX,WRAP WASHINGTON NASA and SpaceX say they are pressing ahead with plans to launch astronauts to space from US soil for the first time in a decade later this month, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. 650 words 2100 GMT by Ivan Couronne. File picture. Video -- COVID-19 -- Health-virus-WHO GENEVA The World Health Organization reiterates that the new coronavirus was of natural origin after US President Donald Trump claimed he had seen evidence it originated in a Chinese lab. 500 words moved. Video Health-virus-blood-pressure WASHINGTON Blood pressure medicines do not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection or serious disease, three large studies say, helping resolve a question that affects tens of millions of people in the US alone. 450 words 2030 GMT -- AMERICAS -- Health-virus-US HOUSTON, Texas Texas eases coronavirus lockdown measures despite reporting a single-day high in deaths, the latest US state to relax restrictions without a clear drop in the number of virus cases. 800 words 2100 GMT by Julia Benarrous. Photo. Video. Graphic US-politics-media-Trump-McEnany,lead WASHINGTON Promising never to lie and saying she prays for coronavirus victims, new White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany aims for a sunny tone in her debut press briefing -- in striking contrast to the often hostile atmosphere. 600 words 2030 GMT by Sebastian Smith. Picture Virus-health-US-housing-economy,SCENE NEW YORK Days before May 1 rent was due Sean Reilly got a knock at his Brooklyn apartment from his building's management demanding payment for the previous month -- but like thousands of others across New York the 25-year-old is participating in a strike demanding the cancellation of rent as the coronavirus slams the economy. 650 words 2200 GMT by Maggy Donaldson. Picture. Video -- EUROPE -- Health-virus-Britain-poverty-minorities,lead LONDON Britain's overall death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rises by 739 as new data indicates that people in disadvantaged areas are worse hit. 700 words moved by Alice Ritchie and James Pheby. Picture Health-virus-France-masks,FOCUS PARIS Protective facemasks have been hard to come by in France, but the government has announced millions will available from Monday, prompting questions from beleaguered medical staff about how so many only just materialised. 500 words moved by Joelle Garrus Health-virus-Spain-bullfighting,FOCUS MADRID For Spain's majestic fighting bulls whose final hours draw thousands to bullrings every year, the blow has been deadly: with the virus decimating the season, many are now condemned to the abattoir. 850 words moved by Alvaro Villalobos. Picture. Video -- AFRICA -- Health-virus-SAfrica JOHANNESBURG South Africa starts gradually easing its strict coronavirus lockdown, allowing some industries to reopen after five weeks of restrictions that plunged its struggling economy deeper into turmoil. 750 words moved by Sofia Christensen. Picture. Video Health-virus-Nigeria KANO Confirmed coronavirus cases in northern Nigeria's Kano state almost triple in a few days after the government ramps up measures following a spate of "mysterious deaths". 400 words moved -- MIDDLE EAST -- Lebanon-politics-economy-aid BEIRUT Lebanon signs a request for financial help from the International Monetary Fund, initiating a long process the government hopes will ease the country's worst post-war economic crisis. 400 words. Health-virus-Iran-religion,VIDEOESSAY TEHRAN With mosques in Iran closed as it battles the coronavirus, worshippers have adopted the novel solution of getting behind the wheel at drive-ins to gather during the fasting month of Ramadan. 400 words moved. Picture. Video -- ASIA -- Health-virus-India,2ndlead NEW DELHI The world's biggest coronavirus lockdown will be extended for two weeks beyond May 4, the Indian government says, but with some easing of restrictions -- including for alcohol. 550 words moved. Picture China-rights-media,WRAP BEIJING A journalist who worked for some of China's most powerful propaganda outlets is jailed for 15 years after being accused of attacking the ruling Communist Party, court documents show. 550 words moved by Patrick Baert China-virus-health-leisure,SCENE SHANGHAI With optimism and a heavy dose of caution, millions of Chinese have hit the road or visit newly opened tourist sites for an extended national holiday in a post-coronavirus confidence test. 550 words moved by Dan Martin with Ludovic Ehret in Beijing. Picture. Video Health-virus-science-Japan-robot TOKYO Coronavirus quarantine can be lonely, but at one Tokyo hotel converted to accept patients with mild symptoms, a humanoid robot will be there to offer support and encouragement -- as well as admonishments and warnings. 450 words moved. Picture. Video -- BUSINESS AND ECONOMY -- US-oil-earnings-ExxonMobil-Chevron,WRAP NEW YORK US oil giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron are curtailing some production as they slash capital spending in response to an acute industry downturn in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. 700 words 2030 GMT by John Biers afp
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)