Covid-19: Hospitals in Brazil’s São Paulo ‘near collapse’

São Paulo’s public hospitals could be overwhelmed in about two weeks’ time, the city mayor warned SAO PAULO, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The mayor of Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo, has said its health system could collapse as demand grows for emergency beds to deal with coronavirus cases. Bruno Covas…

One dead after Canadian Snowbirds aerobatic jet crashes into home

A plume of smoke can be seen rising from the scene of the crash OTTAWA, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least one person has died after an aerobatic Canadian air force jet crashed into a residential neighbourhood while doing a flyover.Another crew member was seriously injured when the plane hit…

Covid-19: WHO kicks off international meet amid US-China tensions

GENEVA, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization on Monday kick off its first ever virtual assembly, but fears abound that US-China tensions could derail the strong action needed to address the COVID-19 crisis. The World Health Assembly, which has been trimmed from the usual three weeks to just…

US: 11 firefighters injured in Los Angeles battling blaze

LOS ANGELES, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eleven firefighters were injured, three of them critically, in downtown Los Angeles when a Saturday fire in a commercial smoke shop sparked a major explosion and spread to nearby structures, officials said. Crews had entered the building to battle what was initially thought to…

Covid-19 pandemic: Tracking the global outbreak

Terrorism and natural disasters cause very few deaths compared with other causes. PARIS, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world, with more than 4.6 million confirmed cases in 188 countries. More than 309,000 people have lost their lives. UNITED STATES: The United States recorded 820…

Journalist killed in Mexico, third this year: official

MEXICO CITY, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican journalist Jorge Armenta was killed in Ciudad Obregon in the country’s north, making him the third journalist slain in Mexico so far this year, authorities said. “An armed attack on Saturday has been confirmed that took the life of Jorge Armenta,” director of…

Two attacks in northeast DR Congo kill 27: officials

KINSHASA, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Women and children were among at least 27 civilians murdered in two separate attacks in the troubled northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said. The first incident, in the Ituri province, is believed to have been carried out by a notorious regional…

Sudan inflation soars to 99% as food prices rise

KHARTOUM, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Inflation in Sudan jumped to 99 percent because of rising food prices, official figures showed, more than a year after the country was rocked by protests sparked by bread price hikes. The inflation rate in April shot up from 82 percent the previous month due…

Covid-19: UK death toll rises by 170, lowest increase since March

LONDON, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of people who have died in the United Kingdom after testing positive for COVID-19 rose by 170 to 34,636, business minister Alok Sharma said, the lowest increase in the official death toll since March 24. The increase reported on Sunday was sharply down…

Covid-19: Italy takes ‘calculated risk’ in easing restrictions – PM

Italy began to relax its strict lockdown measures earlier this month ROME, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy is taking a “calculated risk” as it moves to further ease its coronavirus lockdown measures, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has admitted. He said “the contagion curve” could rise again, but the country could…