China and US economies diverge over coronavirus response
WASHINGTON — The United States and China dealt with the spread of the devastating coronavirus pandemic in vastly different ways, and that split is...
Suga opposes actions that raise tension in South China Sea
JAKARTA — Japan opposes any actions that escalate tension in the East and South China Seas, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Monday as he wrapped up a trip to Vietnam and Indonesia, but he added Tokyo was not aiming at an “Asian NATO” to contain any specific country.
K-pop culture machine boosts Netflix growth
NEW YORK/SEOUL — A zombie drama, a TV series about a supernatural nurse and one about an antisocial children’s book author helped turn South Korea into one of Netflix’s biggest sources of growth in the international markets, a source familiar with the matter said.
Pandemic speeds labor shift from humans to robots, WEF survey finds
ZURICH — Robots will destroy 85 million jobs at mid-sized to large businesses over the next five years as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates changes in the workplace likely to exaggerate inequalities, a World Economic Forum (WEF) study has found.
Harry and Meghan decry ‘crisis of hate’ in social media
LOS ANGELES — Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, spoke on Tuesday about their campaign against social media negativity, with Harry warning of a “global crisis of hate” that was affecting people’s mental health.
Pope wears mask for first time at public event
ROME — Pope Francis wore a mask for the first time at a public function on Tuesday when he and other religious leaders attended...
Thailand welcomes backs tourists after April virus ban as political protests heat up
BANGKOK — Thailand received a group of tourists from China on Tuesday, its first such arrivals since a ban on commercial flights was imposed...
Sinovac vaccine is safe, says Brazil
BEIJING/SAO PAULO — An experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech appeared to be safe in a late-stage clinical trial in Brazil, preliminary results showed on Monday.
Indonesia rejected US request to host spy planes — officials
JAKARTA — Indonesia rejected this year a proposal by the United States to allow its P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance planes to land and refuel there, according to four senior Indonesian officials familiar with the matter.
Final Trump-Biden debate will feature ‘mute’ button
WASHINGTON — The final debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden will feature a mute button to allow each candidate to speak uninterrupted, organizers said on Monday, looking to avoid the disruptions that marred the first matchup.
‘Bad math’: Airlines’ COVID safety analysis challenged by expert
PARIS — A campaign by coronavirus-stricken aviation giants to persuade the world it’s safe to fly has been questioned by one of the scientists whose research it draws upon.
Wait, what? Dutch justice minister explains lockdown rules for weed
AMSTERDAM — The Dutch government told parliament on Monday it could sit back and relax as there are no extra rules needed to prevent people having or smoking cannabis in public places during the coronavirus pandemic.