PARIS -- Twenty-two schools and over 100 classes in France were closed due to the spread of the coronavirus, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer announced on Friday, three days after the opening of schools across the country.

"In mainland France, there are now 12 (schools) closed out of a total of over 60,000, which is small figure. In La Reunion (an overseas department), there are 10 schools," Blanquer told local broadcaster Europe 1. (France-Coronavirus-Education)

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BERLIN -- New orders of the German manufacturing industry in July increased 2.8 percent month-on-month, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) announced on Friday.

Compared with February, the month before COVID-19 measures including the temporary closure of shops and factories were in place in Germany, new orders were still down 8.2 percent, according to Destatis. (Germany-Destatis-new orders)

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MANILA -- A Philippine expert said on Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of infrastructure building in the country and that China's important role in Philippine infrastructure will remain.

Alvin Ang, a professor of economics at Ateneo de Manila University of the Philippines, said the pandemic this year revealed the shortage of infrastructure in the country. (Philippines-China-Infrastructure)

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COLOMBO -- The Sri Lanka Navy on Friday evening said more vessels had joined the rescue efforts in dousing the flames on board an oil tanker which caught fire on Thursday morning in the seas off Sri Lanka's eastern coast.

The oil tanker "MT NewDiamond" was heading to the Paradip Port in India carrying crude oil from Kuwait when a fire broke out in its engine room. (Sri Lanka-Burning Tanker-Rescue) Enditem

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