US Pres Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham steps down: White House

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump’s chief spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham, who never held a single press briefing in a White House where Trump runs much of the communications himself, stepped down Tuesday. The White House said Grisham would now work solely for Trump’s wife Melania. “First Lady Melania…

Covid-19: Global death toll at 75,542

PARIS, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The worldwide number of fatalities from the novel coronavirus rose to 75,542 on Tuesday. More than 1,351,000 declared cases have been registered in 191 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 253,900 are now considered…

Ten non-OPEC+ producers invited to Thursday talks: TASS

MOSCOW, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ten oil producing nations from outside the OPEC+ alliance including the United States have been invited to a meeting aimed at reaching an agreement to reduce oversupply, Russian news agency TASS reported. During a meeting to be held via video conference on Thursday, OPEC and…

Covid-19: British PM Johnson ‘stable’ in intensive care

LONDON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was battling the coronavirus in intensive care on Tuesday, raising serious concerns about his health as the country recorded its highest daily death toll. “The prime minister has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits,” his official spokesman told…

In first, US brands white supremacists as foreign terrorists

Members of the Russian Imperial Movement WASHINGTON, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States branded a Russian far-right group as a foreign terrorist organisation, the first time it has targeted white supremacists with tools regularly used against militant groups. The State Department said that the Russian Imperial Movement runs two paramilitary…

Covid-19: Italy injects record US$430b into pandemic-hit economy

A woman walks her dog in Rome ROME, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy unveiled a record 400 billion euro stimulus to help businesses hurt by a month-long national lockdown that is like to run on for many more weeks. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told the nation to be patient in the…

US warns China not to ‘exploit’ virus for sea disputes

Qilianyu islands in the Paracel chain, which China considers part of Hainan province WASHINGTON, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States warned China not to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to exert itself in the South China Sea after Vietnam said Beijing sank a trawler. Amid the global focus…

Covid-19: Prisoners around the world dread outbreak in race against time

JAKARTA, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder on the floor of a crumbling, windowless room, prisoners in Indonesia fear an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus inside its walls is a “disaster waiting to happen”. “It will be a breeding ground for the virus, should it get into any prison,” said…

Update Covid-19: World leaders wish UK PM Johnson a quick recovery

Donald Trump says Boris Johnson is a ‘very good friend’ LONDON, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s admission to intensive care with coronavirus prompted an outpouring of well-wishes from world leaders. Here are some of the global figures who wished the British leader a quick recovery: US President…

Covid-19: Moroccans without masks in public risk jail terms

The country is already under a strict public health state of emergency RABAT, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Moroccans who venture outside their homes without wearing face masks risk prison sentences of up to three months and a fine of up to 1,300 dirhams, the government has said . The new…