International

Tornadoes bring death, destruction in southern US

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Tornadoes ripped through the southern United States, killing at least 32 people and leaving behind splintered buildings and downed powerlines, officials and US media said Monday. Twisters caused catastrophic damage Easter Sunday and early Monday morning as storms moved through a region stretching from Texas to Georgia, prompting the National Weather Service to issue its highest level of tornado alert. Images showed lines of smashed, roofless houses where tornadoes had […]

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US records 1,509 deaths in past 24 hours: Johns Hopkins tally

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States recorded 1,509 deaths related to the coronavirus pandemic over the past 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:30 pm Monday (0030 GMT Tuesday). The number of fatalities was similar to the previous day’s toll of 1,514. The outbreak has now claimed the lives of at least 23,529 people in the US, the most of any country. The United States has more […]

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France extends lockdown as countries see hope of virus peak

by Joseph Schmid and Stuart Williams, with AFP bureaus Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — France extended its nationwide lockdown on Monday for another month in a bid to halt the coronavirus pandemic, as other hard-hit countries considered easing their measures with hopes rising that death rates may soon plateau. More than half of humanity is now under confinement to contain the virus, which has killed more than 117,000 people and infected nearly 1.9 […]

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New York governor says ‘worst is over’ as virus toll tops 10,000

by Peter HUTCHISON Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York’s governor declared Monday that the “worst is over” for its coronavirus outbreak, despite deaths passing 10,000, as several states began devising a plan to reopen their shuttered economies. Andrew Cuomo said lower average hospitalization rates and intubations suggested a “plateauing” of infections in America’s coronavirus epicenter but warned the outbreak could worsen if restrictions are lifted too quickly. “The worst is […]

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IMF approves debt relief for 25 poor countries

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The International Monetary Fund on Monday announced immediate debt relief for 25 poor countries to help them free up funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic. “This provides grants to our poorest and most vulnerable members to cover their IMF debt obligations for an initial phase over the next six months and will help them channel more of their scarce financial resources towards vital emergency medical and other relief efforts,” IMF […]

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Sanders endorses ex-rival Biden for US president

by Michael Mathes Agence France Press WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Former White House candidate Bernie Sanders on Monday endorsed onetime rival Joe Biden for president, saying it was time to unite in the effort to defeat Donald Trump in November. The two veteran politicians, who each spent the past year battling for the Democratic nomination, appeared together by split-screen on Biden’s livecast. “Today I am asking all Americans — I’m asking every Democrat, I’m […]

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UK coronavirus death toll rises by 717, to 11,329

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The death toll in Britain from coronavirus has risen to 11,329, according to health ministry figures published Monday — an increase of 717 on the previous day’s figures. The daily increase is the lowest for several days, although it is not unusual for numbers to drop after a weekend due to delays in collating data. The numbers only refer to deaths in hospitals. © Agence France-Presse

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Germany moving towards gradual reopening as virus cases drops

by Yannick PASQUET Agence France Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Germany is moving towards a progressive lifting of restrictions linked to the coronavirus outbreak as new infections fall and the number of deaths remains far below its European neighbors. The nation’s Academy of Sciences Leopoldina recommended Monday a gradual relaxing of restrictions in stages if new infections stabilize at a low level and personal hygiene measures to avoid the spread of the coronavirus are maintained. […]

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Sailor from US aircraft carrier dies of COVID-19

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A sailor who was aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier died Monday of COVID-19, the first fatality from more than 500 confirmed cases among its crew, the US Navy said Monday. The sailor, who tested positive for the disease on March 30, was discovered unresponsive on April 9 and placed in the intensive care unit of the Navy’s hospital in Guam, where the Roosevelt is docked. © Agence France-Presse

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UPDATED: At least 11 dead in tornado-struck Mississippi: official

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Tornados ripped through the southern US state of Mississippi, killing at least 11 people, officials said Monday as they gathered information on the extent of the damage caused by the storms. The tornadoes caused “catastrophic” damage on Sunday, according to US media, and prompted the National Weather Service to issue its highest level of tornado alert. Governor Tate Reeves tweeted that he had declared a state of emergency “to protect […]

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Spain eases lockdown as hopes of pandemic peak rise

by Hazel Ward, with AFP bureaus Agence France Presse MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain reopened parts of its coronavirus-stricken economy on Monday as slowing death tolls in some of the worst-hit countries boosted hopes the curve may be starting to flatten and lockdown restrictions could soon be eased. Watched by a world that is keen to temper a brutal pandemic-induced recession, some Spanish factory and construction staff were set to return to work within strict […]

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Three Turkish prisoners die of coronavirus

ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Three Turkish prisoners have died from the coronavirus, Turkey’s justice minister said Monday as he announced the first cases of convicts diagnosed with the disease. A total of 17 convicts in five open prisons have contracted the virus, Abdulhamit Gul told reporters in Ankara. “Three of them, unfortunately, died during their treatment in hospital,” he said. Some convicts are sent to open prisons towards the end of their sentences to serve […]

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