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by Michel COMTE OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Can$27 billion in direct aid Wednesday to help workers and businesses cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. He said tax payments worth an estimated Can$55 billion could also be deferred until August. The combined amount equals three percent of this G7 nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). “This is a time where you should be focused on your health, not […]
by Nina LARSON GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The head of the World Health Organization on Wednesday called the new coronavirus an “enemy against humanity”, as the number of people infected in the pandemic soared past 200,000. Worldwide fatalities topped 8,000 and more deaths have now been recorded in Europe, the new virus epicenter, than in Asia since the outbreak first emerged in China in December. “This coronavirus is presenting us with an unprecedented threat,” Tedros […]
BALI, Indonesia (AFP) — A strong earthquake jolted Indonesia’s holiday island of Bali early on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued. The quake struck at 1:45 am (1745 GMT) with an epicenter 255 kilometers south of the town of Nusa Dua, the US Geological Service reported. The epicenter was a relatively shallow 10 kilometers deep. Indonesia’s weather and geophysics bureau said there was no tsunami threat. No casualties or infrastructure damage have been reported […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — Some 500 million people have been subject to lockdown measures around the world because of the coronavirus outbreak that started in China and has quickly ballooned globally, according to an AFP count. From China to the Czech Republic to Venezuela, governments have told their citizens to stay indoors to try and slow the spread of the pandemic. Here are the populations affected. Obligatory confinement The central Chinese province of Hubei and […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — French police handed out over 4,000 fines Wednesday to people found violating an order to stay at home, on the first full day of a lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus in the country. “Since this morning, we have begun procedures and 4,095 people were booked (for violating the rules),” Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told TF1 television. “The fine was 35 euros ($38) yesterday, and now from today […]
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The COVID-19 pandemic will significantly increase global unemployment, pushing up to nearly 25 million more people out of work, the United Nations said Wednesday. “The economic and labor crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million,” the International Labour Organization said as it released a fresh study. It added however that an internationally coordinated policy response could “significantly lower” that number. © Agence France-Presse
by Roland JACKSON LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Global stock and oil markets plunged Wednesday, as vast stimulus measures failed to offset heightened concerns that the worsening coronavirus outbreak will tip the world into a deep downturn, dealers said. In European stock market trading, Frankfurt, London, and Paris tanked around five percent in morning deals, after similar dizzying losses across Asia. Before the market open in Paris, French regulators banned for one-month short-selling, or the […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — More than 850 million young people, or about half the world’s student population, are barred from their school and university grounds because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, UNESCO said Wednesday. Calling it an “unprecedented challenge,” UNESCO said schools had been closed in 102 countries, with partial closures in 11 more — with more closures to come. “Over 850 million children and youth — roughly half of the world’s student population — […]
Situation in a supermarket in Berlin (Situation im Supermarkt in Berlin ) Aufgenommen am Montag, 16. März, 2020 gegen 12:00 Uhr Mittags. (Taken on Monday, 16 March 2020 about 12 noon) Die Regale sind leer. Es ist nur noch das vorrätig was da ist. Laut einem Mitarbeiter werden Sie jeden Tag beliefert, aber wissen nicht was an Ware kommt. Lebensmittel die immer ausverkauft sind: Hygiene Artikel wie Toilettenpapier, Mehl, Nudeln , Reis und Konservendosen Brot […]
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday defended the response to the new coronavirus outbreak by his administration, which has yet to impose a lockdown to stop the disease spreading. The COVID-19 outbreak in sanctions-hit Iran is one of the deadliest outside China, where the disease originated. Rouhani’s government says the virus has killed 1,135 people and infected 17,161 others in the month since it first emerged in the Islamic republic. “Some […]
(Eagle News) — Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno has tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019. In a statement, the BSP said Diokno “will report for work tomorrow, just in time for the Monetary Board policy meeting.” “The continued health of members of the Monetary Board is paramount to the stability of the financial system amidst this pandemic,” it said. Earlier, Diokno went on self-quarantine after he had exposure to a person who […]
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a unilateral ceasefire against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front, the Palace said on Wednesday, March 18. According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the unilateral ceasefire, which will be effective at midnight of March 19 to April 15, was in view of the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine on Luzon to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019. “The President has […]
