Worldwide / 144

Coronavirus: Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, dies as cases hit 493

April 18, 2020

Buhari's office announced in a statement that it "regrets to announce the passage" of Abba Kyari, who acted as gatekeeper to the president of Africa's most populous nation. Mr Kyari gave up the ghost weeks after battling the deadly coronavirus . He further stated that he made his personal care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system, which faces so much pressure.

USA coronavirus death toll passes 32000: tracker

April 18, 2020

China, ground zero of the virus, most recently reported almost %50 raise in its death toll bringing fatalities from 3,345 to 4,636 with over 83,700 cases. The United States leads with the most deaths and the most confirmed cases worldwide. Spain has recorded 19,130 deaths, followed by France with 17,920.

Trump blasts new coronavirus message: 'LIBERATE' swing states that have Democratic governors

April 18, 2020

Protesters have taken to the streets in Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia and MI, where more than 3,000 turned out on Wednesday (local time) in what looked like one of the President's rallies, with MAGA (Make America Great Again) hats and Trump flags.

Michael Cohen to be released from prison early over COVID-19

April 18, 2020

Cohen is being held at a minimum-security federal prison camp in Otisville, N.Y., and was scheduled for release in November 2021. He had pressed to be released early due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has hammered NY state and surfaced in prisons around the country.

China denies cover-up as Wuhan coronavirus deaths revised up 50%

April 18, 2020

The Wuhan authorities claim that this was due to a bunch of reasons, such as delayed reports from hospitals, home deaths that had not been added to the total tally, and the huge workload on the hospitals as they coped with the early stages of the outbreak.

Senate adjourns with no deal on small business loan program

April 18, 2020

Democrats blocked a fast-track bid to pass the funding last week, and Republicans in turn stymied their efforts for additional funding for other priorities in a brief debate that was mostly a messaging exercise. "It is surreal to see Democratic leaders treat support for workers and small businesses as something they need to be goaded into supporting. It doesn't mean we won't be dealing with them later, but we have an emergency, we ought to deal with it".

WWII veteran, 99, raises £18m for United Kingdom health workers

April 18, 2020

Tom Moore release "You'll Never Walk Alone" duet for NHS . Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. It's the second high-profile coronavirus charity single to be released, following Dame Vera Lynn and Katherine Jenkins" re-recording of "We'll Meet Again' to raise money to support NHS workers and volunteers.

French GP set for call-off as country extends lockdown

April 18, 2020

Get push notifications with news, features and more. The coronavirus pandemic has caused one of the great turns to be delayed: the initial dates were from June 27 to July 19. Finance officials from the United States, China, European countries and other members of the G20 group of major economies were expected to finalise plans to suspend debt payments for 76 countries, including 40 in sub-Saharan Africa, according to French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire.

UK To Extend Coronavirus Lockdown For At Least 3 Weeks

April 18, 2020

Mr Raab, deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he recovers from the virus, said the original three-month timeline set down by Mr Johnson to come through the peak of the virus was broadly "still the outline". Raab said measures could be changed when the government is confident it can, based on five tests. "But we will only do it when the evidence demonstrates that it is safe to do it", he said.

Trudeau says US-Canada border restrictions won't be lifted anytime soon

April 18, 2020

The premier also announced restrictions at the US-Canada border will remain in place for weeks , while earlier, US President Donald Trump mused that travel restrictions at the Canadian border may be lifted in the near future. The U.S. Federal Protective Service, a special infrastructure protective branch within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that goes back to the post-revolution establishment of the U.S.

Andrew Cuomo blasts Donald Trump for 'passing buck' on COVID-19 response

April 18, 2020

Cuomo's broadside against Trump - with one soliloquy lasting 17 minutes without interruption - showcased a side of the governor's personality that is talked about in political circles but rarely displayed in public: bristling, pugnacious, abrasive.

France defends handling of aircraft carrier coronavirus outbreak

April 18, 2020

Thirty-one were being treated in hospital, and one was in intensive care, a ministry statement said. The French defense ministry began testing crew members of the Charles de Gaulle and other naval vessels after about 40 personnel on the carrier developed symptoms earlier this month.

Why COVID-19 is Placing the rescue of Notre Dame at Danger

April 18, 2020

We will do everything to meet this deadline. "Yes, construction is at a halt for the moment due to the health crisis, but it will resume as soon as possible", he said in a video message. "What matters isn't the roof and vault so much as the sanctuary they protect", she was priced estimate as stating, including: "Notre Dame will be restored".

President Trump tweets to ‘Liberate Michigan’ repeating sentiment from Lansing rally

April 18, 2020

In a series of tweets, the president stated, "Liberate Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia". A minute later, the president tweeted "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" followed shortly by "LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment". Similar protests are being organized across the country and in neighboring Wisconsin. Outside the state capitol building, some chanted "Lock her up", a throwback to Mr Trump's calls during the 2016 election about his rival Hillary Clinton.

First alleviations of corona measures announced in Germany

April 17, 2020

Many expected wearing face masks to be mandatory as restrictions are lifted, but Merkel said only that people are "strongly recommended" to wear them in shops or on public transport. "We are now moving forward in small steps", Merkel told a news conference. The Interior Ministry announced earlier on Wednesday that controls at Germany's borders with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Denmark were being extended by 20 days to early May.

Chris Cuomo Reveals His Wife Has Coronavirus: ‘It Just Breaks My Heart’

April 17, 2020

The bicyclist, who only allowed the Post to use his first name, David, said Cuomo - who has COVID-19 - lost his temper after being confronted about social distancing. Cristina said she's still committed to following a form of alternative medicine called naturopathy as she grapples with the illness, and asked her followers to share their own "methods for recovery".

Brazil health minister sacked amid virus crisis

April 17, 2020

Bolsonaro's downplaying of coronavirus - and his public call for Brazil to relax quarantine measures and get back to work - have appalled critics and many citizens, sparking nightly pot-banging protests in major cities. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. Mandetta's dismissal comes as health systems in parts of Brazil, particularly the north and northeast, are becoming overwhelmed by ...

Michael Cohen to be released from prison over coronavirus fears

April 17, 2020

He will be placed in a 14-day quarantine before leaving the prison camp. They could not discuss Cohen's release publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Cohen will join 1,198 inmates who were placed in home confinement. Cohen was notified on Thursday of his pending release, and his lawyer, Roger Adler, confirmed it to CNN .

Singapore may place workers who recover from COVID-19 on cruise ships

April 17, 2020

Hotels are among the alternative lodgings used to house foreign workers, even as the Government tackles the increasing number of them who are testing positive for Covid-19 at dormitories across the island. "If activated, every effort will be made to uphold the health, welfare and security of foreign workers on board the ship, where they will be expected to observe the highest standards of safe distancing at all times", it said.

Gates Foundation commits $150mn more towards COVID-19 efforts

April 17, 2020

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says northern Nigeria remains a high-risk region for the spread of COVID-19 due to its weak primary healthcare system. Moeti said World Health Organization was going to spent $300 million in the next six months fighting COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa and Algeria; a land mass with 47 countries and almost a billion people.

Brazilian leader fires health minister after virus dispute

April 17, 2020

As Bolsonaro announced his departure, Brazilians protested by banging pots and pans in several neighborhoods of the country's biggest cities. Luiz Henrique Mandetta stated on Twitter that Bolsonaro had informed him of his dismissal. The former minister, also a doctor, often snatched the spotlight during daily Health Ministry briefings and countless media interviews in which he said quarantines were needed to slow the rate of new infections and allow the health system to cope with a flood ...

COVID-19: United Kingdom govt extends lockdown by three weeks

April 17, 2020

Mr Raab said there is "light at the end of the tunnel" but refused to set out a "definitive timeframe" for easing the lockdown measures, stressing that lifting them now would only lead to a "second lockdown". Despite the need for an extension to the lockdown, which was expected, Raab - who is also first secretary of state - said the lockdown had been a success.

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern explains lower alert level amid Coronavirus fear

April 17, 2020

New Zealand on Wednesday recorded 20 new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 1,386. It had only six confirmed new infections on Thursday. "Of course, many people in our public sector are our frontline essential workers, nurses, police, healthcare professionals. Businesses only accessed by the staff , and without a customer facing function, such as building and construction or forestry can open under strict health and safety and ...

Cuomo: New York Pandemic Shutdown Extended to May 15

April 17, 2020

While that is the lowest daily death toll recorded in more than a week, Cuomo described the rate of deaths as "still continuing at a really tragic, tragic rate". So I think we will see some states that are - the governors feel that they're ready - we're poised to assist them with that reopening", Robert Redfield, director of the U.S.

With Virus, South Korea's Govt Wins in Landslide

April 17, 2020

Together, the two groups took three-fifths of all seats, giving Moon the largest majority of seats in three decades. On track to win seats in the assembly were Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to the South , running as a member of the opposition conservative party in a wealthy district in Seoul; former prime minister Lee Nak-yeon, who until January served in Moon's government; and Moon's former spokeswoman, Ko Min-jung, who was locked in a tight race as counting ...

China's Wuhan raises coronavirus death toll by 50% citing early lapses

April 17, 2020

Cases in the city were also adjusted, up 325 to 50,333, accounting for over 60 percent of everybody infected in all of China. The coronavirus, which has infected 21.57 lakh people and killed 1.44 lakh deaths, is believed to have originated late past year in a seafood market in Wuhan that has been closed and boarded up since January.

China reacts to Trump, US accusation of ‘creating COVID-19’

April 17, 2020

In the USA, claims that the virus was created in or released from a Chinese lab emerged just weeks after the outbreak began and quickly spread from fringe internet sites to the wider public, abetted by conspiracy theorists of every stripe. The Washington Post reports that the lab involved is the Wuhan Institute of Virology which was enough of a concern to USA officials "that they dispatched two diplomatic cables categorized as Sensitive But Unclassified back to Washington".

Coronavirus Lockdown Extension: Government Says Restrictions Will Continue For Another Three Weeks

April 17, 2020

At the Downing Street daily briefing, deputising for Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said step-by-step the government's aim is to slow the transmission of the virus and ease the pressure on the NHS. Which countries have escaped the coronavirus? Relaxing too early could be catastrophic, Raab said, but even when change comes it would likely not be across the board.

Wuhan raises virus death toll by 1,290, up 50%

April 17, 2020

Elsewhere in China , the total number of deaths reported so far (including Wuhan ) stands at 4,632, with 82,692 cases overall where someone has tested positive. "It is hoped the veracity of the data can put all controversy surrounding it to rest". American intelligence officials have concluded that China concealed the extent of its outbreak and under-reported number of cases and deaths.

United Kingdom coronavirus lockdown extended by 3 weeks

April 17, 2020

Relaxing too early could be catastrophic, Raab said, but even when change comes it would likely not be across the board. The announcement comes as the United Kingdom recorded another 861 deaths due to the virus, taking the total number of hospital deaths to 13,729.

Former North Korean Diplomat Wins Seat in South’s Legislature

April 17, 2020

Neither Kim Jong Un nor his sister Kim Yo Jong, believed to be his second-in-command, attended the ceremony at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, despite many of his senior officials appearing at the wreath laying. U.N. Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from engaging in any ballistic activities, but not cruise missile tests. The previous four missile launches were all conducted in March.

Coronavirus crisis: International Monetary Fund forecasts Australian economy will contract 6.7 per cent

April 17, 2020

Participating in the plenary meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) through video conferencing, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said as a responsible member of the global community, India is providing critical medicines to other nations.

Trump threatens to adjourn U.S. Congress over 'scam' preventing appointments

April 17, 2020

Given that the authority has never been invoked before, it's murky as to what would define "disagreement" in this case. "And perhaps it's never been done before, nobody is even sure if it has, but we're going to do it". Under the Constitution, the President does have the power to adjourn Congress "to such time as he shall think proper" when there is a disagreement between the House and Senate on when to adjourn.

US Navy accuses Iranian vessels of harassing warships in Gulf

April 17, 2020

The Iranian boats "repeatedly conducted unsafe and harassing approaches" of six U.S. ships: the USS Lewis B. Puller , an expeditionary mobile base platform ship; the USS Paul Hamilton , an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer; the USS Firebolt and the USS Sirocco , cyclone-class coastal patrol ships, and the USCGC Wrangell and the USCGC Maui , U.S.

Elizabeth Warren Endorses Joe Biden: "Empathy Matters"

April 17, 2020

When Warren became a senator she said that Biden, who swore her into office, recalled the incident, saying: 'Joe Biden was there at the very moment I became a Senator, and when he did, he said "you gave me hell!" Warren left the race without endorsing Biden or her fellow progressive Bernie Sanders - but the dynamics changed substantially in subsequent weeks, with campaigning forced into a hiatus amid the coronavirus outbreak.

G20 agrees to temporarily freeze debt of poorest countries

April 17, 2020

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz called the move "an act of worldwide solidarity with a historical dimension", adding it would let the countries invest in healthcare "immediately and without time-consuming case-by-case examination". We call on private creditors, working through the Institute of International Finance, to participate in the initiative on comparable terms. These measures include liquidity support of Dollars 50 billion, regulatory and supervisory measures for credit easing, ...

Virginia Pastor Who Held Church Service Despite Social Distancing Dies Of Coronavirus

April 17, 2020

The sermon was posted on YouTube and later removed. His last in-person service was held on 22 March, where he brought together his congregation despite warnings from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and medical authorities against gatherings of more than 10 people .

State Department is reportedly concerned China is conducting nuclear tests

April 17, 2020

Either way, the report could certainly exacerbate tensions between Washington and Beijing, which are already rising because of longstanding trade disputes and, more recently, the U.S.'s criticism of China's handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan.

Thousands of Stores in Austria are Reopening

April 17, 2020

Spain, Italy and Austria on Tuesday allowed some businesses to open their doors and allow some people to return to work. Complete deaths climbed to 18,056. "This is a first step in the direction of opening that's become possible", Kurz told journalists in Vienna. Britain, the place the federal government has come beneath criticism for its sluggish strategy to testing and for not getting protecting gear to the frontlines of well being care, has the fifth-highest demise toll globally.

Rohingya die, hundreds rescued from boat after weeks at sea

April 17, 2020

At least 32 Rohingya are believed to have died on an overcrowded boat stranded in the Bay of Bengal for almost two months, an official said Thursday after hundreds of "starving" people were rescued from the vessel. The 396 survivors would be handed to the United Nations refugee agency, said the official, who had initially said they would be sent to Myanmar. "Rohingya may encounter closed borders supported by a xenophobic public narrative", she said in a message.

New York City revises coronavirus death toll to add 3,700 more deaths

April 17, 2020

Mayor de Blasio says drivers will be paid by the shift. The mayor's remarks are expected to begin at 9:30 am EDT. Earlier, in an interview with CNN's New Day, he said, if the city or state makes "one false move", the result could be catastrophic.

Three Week Lockdown Extension Across Isle Of Wight And UK

April 17, 2020

Asked about how the government will deal with China once the pandemic has passed, Mr Raab said: "There's no doubt, we can't have business as usual after this crisis". A YouGov poll conducted before Thursday's announcement showed 91% of Britons supported a three-week extension to the lockdown. The daily death toll from the virus hit almost 1,000 over the Easter weekend and, after falling for several days this week, spiked back up to 861 on Thursday, according to health ministry figures.

Health Minister Mandetta Did Not Accept Secretary's Resignation Letter

April 17, 2020

In a defiant news conference, Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta acknowledged his differences with Bolsonaro and said he had discussed a search for his replacement with the presidential chief of staff. Many of Bolsonaro's allies have broken with the president to support the health minister, including Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel and Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria, who on Wednesday said Mandetta's exit would be a "disaster" because the country would risk "being guided by ...

NY records big leap in coronavirus deaths

April 17, 2020

As a mark of respect for those who have lost their lives to the virus, Mr Cuomo has directed flags to be flown at half-mast. "The good news is that the increase curve continues to flatten out", he said. But in order to contemplate returning to anything approaching normalcy, he said, the city would also need to be able to test more people for the virus.

China McDonald apologises for Guangzhou ban on black people

April 17, 2020

Guangzhou is home to one of China's largest African communities and has become a hub for African traders buying and selling goods to the continent. McDonald's also said that the ban on black people was "not representative of our inclusive values" and that it had conducted "diversity and inclusion" training in the branch.

NY extends shutdown to May 15

April 17, 2020

New Yorkers must wear masks when riding either public or private transit systems, including for-hire vehicles, and people operating those systems must wear masks at all times. Explaining how the infection rate works, Cuomo said if one person infects one more person, the rate of spread is considered stable, but this could still be problematic.

Putin postpones World War II victory parade due to virus

April 17, 2020

Speaking in comments broadcast on state television nationwide on Thursday, Putin did not say when the parade would take place, but said that it would definitely be this year. "Every family will remember and honour its heroes". Chinese President Xi Jinping , French President Emmanuel Macron and other foreign leaders had promised to attend this year's parade, which was to involve 14,000 troops and 300 military vehicles in a massive show of Russian military might.

Shinzo Abe Expands State Of Emergency To All Of Japan

April 16, 2020

Still some way short of a lockdown, the state of emergency introduced on April 7 and imposed for a month gave the authorities more power to press people to stay at home and businesses to close. The change would be a nod to growing calls from ruling and opposition politicians for Abe to take bolder steps to soften the economic blow of the coronavirus, such as by handing out more cash to more people.

MI gov says protesters likely lengthened coronavirus quarantine

April 16, 2020

The governor had heard plenty. Whitmer was also asked if she was surprised at the number of citizens who turned out for the protest. All stories linked in the newsletter are free to access. Right-wing media joined in the chorus. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. And on Wednesday, conservative talk-show host and Trump favorite, Rush Limbaugh , applauded the protesters, saying that Democrats like Whitmer "being coached by Nancy Pelosi and Schumer to push this harder than they might ...

Lagos Records 18 New Coronavirus Cases, Three More Deaths

April 16, 2020

This was after announcing that two new COVID-19 deaths were recorded on Wednesday without mentioning the state. According to the Commissioner, the other two victims had no travel history or record of contact with any infected person. The total number of registered coronavirus cases surged to 69,392 as 4,281 more people tested positive for the virus, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.

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