Covid-19: African Union slams Trump decision to stop WHO funding

Head of the African Union Commission ADDIS ABABA, April 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The head of the African Union Commission condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). Moussa Faki Mahamat termed the decision “deeply regrettable” and said the world had a “collective responsibility”…

Covid-19: EU chief calls May 4 donor conference on vaccine

BRUSSELS, April 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called a donors conference for May 4 to fund the creation and global deployment of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus. A vaccine “is our collective best shot at beating the virus. To support this global initiative, funding…

Covid-19: US Pres Trump under fire over WHO funding freeze

PARIS, April 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US decision to freeze funding to the World Health Organization over what President Donald Trump said was its “mismanaging” of the global coronavirus pandemic triggered anger and concern. Trump announced that the United States would halt payments to the UN body that amounted to…

Covid-19: UK dismisses 5G/coronavirus claims as ‘nonsense’

LONDON, April 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The British government dismissed a TV presenter’s claim that there could be a link between 5G technology and coronavirus as “complete nonsense”. The 5G conspiracy theory, spread widely on social media, has alreadyled to a new telecoms mast being set alight in Ireland at the…

Covid-19: WHO focused on saving lives, says chief after US funding freeze

GENEVA, April 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The World Health Organization is purely focused on saving lives and halting the coronavirus pandemic, its chief said Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced he was freezing funding for the WHO. “There is no time to waste. WHO’s singular focus is on working…

Covid-19: French Pres Macron pushes Africa debt relief, seeks Putin’s backing for UN truce plea

France President, Emmanuel Macron PARIS, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — International creditors must relieve African countries of debt payments this year to help them deal with the Coronavirus pandemic, French President Emmanuel Macron said. A moratorium on African countries’ debt payments is “an indispensable step” to help the continent weather the coronavirus crisis,…

Covid-19: Germany’s deaths surge past China’s

BERLIN, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of deaths in Germany from the Coronavirus has surpassed those reported by China, according to statistics released on Wednesday by local health authorities.Data analysis firm Risklayer and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, which compiles real-time figures from nearly 400 local authorities, reported 301 new deaths over…

Covid-19: Inmates infections in South African prison a worry

PRETORIA, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of prisoners who have tested positive for coronavirus in a correctional facility in South Africa has increased by 49 in two days.The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said the number of infected prisoners at the East London Correctional Centre now stands at 53.Some…

Covid-19 forces Russian florists to destroy millions of roses as demand wilts

MOSCOW, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s rose growers are destroying a million flowers a day after a coronavirus-induced slump in sales, with fears of worse to come as self-isolation measures take hold across the country. With non-essential shops ordered to shut, florists are among many businesses fighting for survival and…

Covid-19: 99-year-old WWII veteran beats coronavirus in Brazil

Second Lieutenant Ermando Piveta BRASILIA, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 99-year-old World War II veteran in Brazil was released from hospital with military honours on Tuesday after recovering from COVID-19. Second Lieutenant Ermando Piveta, who served in the Brazilian artillery in Africa during World War II, was brought out of…