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| - Duty Editor: Bryan McManus Contact: bryan.mcmanus@afp.com -- TOP STORIES -- + Europe prepares to ease its coronavirus lockdown + Seoul closes bars, clubs on fears of virus second wave + Obama attacks Trump's pandemic handling as 'disaster' + British PM to announce lockdown easing steps + Voice technology gets boost in world fearing touch Health-virus,WRAP PARIS Millions of Europeans prepare for a return to partial normality, a day before officials relax some of world's strictest coronavirus lockdown measures. 950 words 1630 GMT by Joseph Boyle with AFP bureaus. Video. Videographic. Graphic. Picture Health-virus-SKorea,2ndlead SEOUL South Korea's capital orders the closure of all clubs and bars after a burst of new cases sparks fears of a second coronavirus wave, and President Moon Jae-in urges the public to remain vigilant. 550 words moved. Picture. Video Health-virus-US-Obama-politics WASHINGTON Former president Barack Obama launches a scathing attack on Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it an "absolute chaotic disaster". 450 words moved. File picture Health-virus-Britain,2ndlead LONDON Prime Minister Boris Johnson issues new public advice on coronavirus as he unveils his plan to ease a nationwide lockdown, but warns he will proceed cautiously as deaths in Britain, already the highest in Europe, continue to mount. 650 words 1900 GMT by Alice Ritchie. Picture. Video. Health-virus-US-IT-voice WASHINGTON In a world suddenly fearful of touch, voice technology is getting a fresh look. Voice-activated systems such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple's Siri have seen strong growth in recent years, and the virus pandemic could accelerate that. 600 words moved by Rob Lever -- EUROPE -- Health-virus-confinement-Europe,FACTS PARIS Tentatively parts of Europe are emerging from lockdown, with France and Belgium joining the list on Monday of countries beginning the first phase of easing measures, amid fears of a second wave. 850 words moved Graphic. Picture Health-virus-fashion-masks,FOCUS PARIS Face masks have gone from being a curiosity to a fashion's latest object of desire -- and one which could be with us for a while. 700 words moved by Fiachra Gibbons and Olga Nedbaeva. Video by Natalie Handel. Picture. File picture Health-virus-Germany-restaurants-leisure,VIDEOESSAY SCHWERIN, GERMANY The waiters may be wearing masks, but diners in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomeria are getting a taste of normal life as restaurants there become to first to reopen following weeks of coronavirus restrictions. 500 words moved by Ulas CUERE. Picture. Video Health-virus-Sweden-elderly,FOCUS STOCKHOLM Sweden, whose softer approach to the coronavirus has garnered international attention, admits it has failed to adequately protect the elderly, with around half of COVID-19 deaths occurring among nursing home residents. 750 words moved by Pia Ohlin. Picture. Video Health-virus-Greece-tourism-Airbnb,FOCUS ATHENS At the foot of the Acropolis hill, in the touristic Koukaki district, the coronavirus lockdown has silenced the sound of Airbnb customers' wheeled luggage. The tourist industry in Athens, as in many other European capitals, has come to a halt, with airplanes grounded and restaurants, museums and archeological monuments all closed. 750 words moved by Alexandros Kottis with AFP bureaus. Picture. Video -- MIDDLE EAST -- Israel-Palestinians-conflict-prisoners,FOCUS JERUSALEM Long-stalled talks on a prisoner swap between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas could be given fresh impetus by the coronavirus pandemic and the formation of a new Israeli government, analysts say. 700 words moved by Claire Gounon and Adel Zaanoun in Gaza Libya-conflict,WRAP TRIPOLI War-torn Libya's Government of National Accord says at least four civilians, including a child, were killed when rockets rained down on the capital Tripoli and its only working airport. 570 words moved by Rim Taher. Picture. Video Health-virus-Iran-economy,FOCUS TEHRAN While many residents of Iran's capital are taking advantage of loosened COVID-19 controls, some worry about a new spike in infections in what remains the Middle East's deadliest virus epicentre. 750 words 1430 GMT by Ahmad Parhizi. Picture. Video Health-virus-Algeria-protests,ANALYSIS ALGIERS The Algerian regime is exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to defeat a protest movement that has shaken it to its core over the past year, analysts say. 640 words moved by Philippe Agret. File picture -- AFRICA -- Health-virus-Niger-migration-EU,FOCUS NIAMEY Many Africans are managing to evade coronavirus lockdown barriers in Niger, the Sahel's migrant crossroads, as they press on with their perilous desert trek to the Mediterranean Sea and ultimately Europe. 900 words moved by Boureima Hama. Pictures -- AMERICAS -- Health-virus-US-education,FOCUS WASHINGTON The cost of a university education in the United States has long been eye-watering, with a year costing tens of thousands of dollars. But as the coronavirus crisis settles in, students -- many of whom take out huge loans to finance their degrees -- are wondering how to justify spending $70,000 a year on.... Zoom classes. 700 words moved by Camille Camdessus. Picture Health-virus-US-ultraviolet,FOCUS NEW YORK Could a new type of ultraviolet lamps be used in stations, airplanes and schools to kill dangerous viruses, becoming a gamechanger in the COVID-19 fight? 800 words moved by Catherine Triomphe. Picture Health-virus-US-women-abortion-internet,FOCUS WASHINGTON One week after Sally realized she was pregnant, her home state Texas temporarily banned abortions because of the coronavirus crisis, deeming them unnecessary elective procedures. So, the 34-year-old took matters into her own hands -- something she never would have considered in the past. 850 words moved by Lucie Aubourg. Picture US-politics-justice-Trump-taxes,ADVANCER WASHINGTON Can Donald Trump refuse to turn over his tax returns and financial records to Congress and New York prosecutors? The Supreme Court takes up this politically charged question on Tuesday, and it may use the occasion to better define the limits of presidential immunity. 750 words moved by Charlotte Plantive. Picture -- ASIA -- Health-virus-Australia MELBOURNE Ten people are arrested and a police officer injured at an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne, where demonstrators claimed coronavirus was a government-engineered conspiracy designed to control the population. 400 words moved. Picture Health-virus-China-marriage,FOCUS BEIJING Like many couples in the era of social distancing, Ma Jialun and Zhang Yitong held their wedding ceremony online -- but they added a twist by livestreaming the event to more than 100,000 strangers. 650 words moved by Danni Zhu and Helen Roxburgh. Video. Picture -- SPORT -- MMA-UFC MIAMI, Florida The Ultimate Fighting Championship has become the first major American sporting event held since the US coronavirus outbreak, with President Donald Trump congratulating the promoter Moved 550 words. Picture afp
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