Tuesday 19 May
- Coronavirus: Global cases top 4 million as US president Donald Trump threatens to permanently pull funding from WHO.
- UK: Young people most likely to lose work in lockdown.
- London care homes report a possible fresh outbreak.
- Japan will get a second wave of Covid-19 cases despite being able to prevent an explosive outbreak, expert says.
- French hospitals see the number of critical patients drop below 2,000.
- UAE foreign residents can return from June.
Coronavirus live updates -Trump threatens to permanently pull funding from WHO
CNN says global cases of Covid-19 have topped 4.8 million worldwide including at least 318,000 deaths.
US President Trump has threatened to permanently pull US funding from the World Health Organisation (WHO) if it does not “commit to major substantive improvements in the next 30 days.” Also in the US, President Trump has said he is taking daily does of hydroxychloroquine as the US death toll tops 90,000.
Read the full story on CNN
……………………………
UK: Young people ‘most likely to lose work’ in lockdown
BBC News says young people are most likely to have lost work or seen their income drop because of the coronavirus pandemic, a report suggests.
More than one in three 18-24-year-olds is earning less than before the outbreak, research by the Resolution Foundation claims. It says younger workers risk their pay being affected for years, while older staff may end up involuntary retired. Young people tend to be hit hardest by economic slumps.
Read the full story on BBC News
……………………………
London care homes report possible fresh outbreaks
The Guardian says doctors have reported possible fresh outbreaks of the virus in care and nursing homes in west London, just two months after the area was a hotspot in the first days of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Just when we thought there might be light at the end of the tunnel, two new or worsening care home outbreaks over the past 48 hours,” said Dr Anna Down, clinical lead at a GP practice with 1,000 residents on its books in 15 privately run nursing homes.
Read the full story on The Guardian
……………………………
Second wave of Covid-19 in Japan is inevitable, experts say
Japan Times says another wave of coronavirus infections is sure to hit Japan even though the country has managed to prevent an explosive spread of Covid-19, according to Kenji Shibuya, a professor at a British institute. Shibuya has warned against complacency after Japan managed to stop an outbreak on the scale many Western countries have seen.
“It will be dangerous to have such an impression when the next wave of infections comes,” he said. “The fight against this virus is truly a long-term battle, and it’s only the end of the first inning, to use a baseball metaphor.”
Read the full story on Japan Times
……………………………
French hospitals see number of critical cases of Covid-19 drop below 2,000
France24 says France reported 131 new coronavirus deaths on Monday, bringing the total to 28,239, as the number of patients in intensive care units dropped below 2,000 for the first time since March.
Monday’s death toll marks a significant drop from the 483 fatalities reported on Sunday though the latter figure took into account “additional data” provided by local health agencies.
Read the full story on France24
……………………………
UAE foreign residents can return to the country starting June
Arab News says UAE foreign residents will be able to return to the country starting June 1, state news agency WAM reported citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) and the Federal Authority For Identity and Citizenship (ICA).
“The move is aimed at streamlining their safe return to the UAE,” the statement read.
Read the full story on Arab News
……………………………
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARE WTX NEWS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY:
Facebook – Please like our page
Twitter – Twitter updates available in English and Arabic. Please follow us and we would love to hear from you
Instagram – Follow our pages in English and Arabic
A quick look at the other top stories from around the world.
NYC shootings skyrocket with dozens of victims in a week
Fox News says shootings in NYC almost quadrupled last week — with victims of the recent bloodshed accounting for nearly 12 per cent of the total number of people shot so far this year, data shows.
Homophobia has deep roots in French society, admits government
Euronews says France’s government has admitted homophobia and transphobia have deep roots in the country’s society. It came as the country’s interior ministry revealed a sharp increase in the number of anti-LGBT acts last year.
Lesotho PM resigns amid ex-wife’s murder case
BBC News says Thomas Thabane has announced he will step down as prime minister of Lesotho following months of pressure after he was named as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife.
Jewish settler convicted in arson attack that killed Palestinians
Aljazeera reports an Israeli court has convicted a Jewish settler guilty of racially motivated murder in a 2015 arson attack that killed a Palestinian couple and their baby in the occupied West Bank.
Hong Kong activists back in court amid more legislative chaos
The Guardian says pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have returned to the top of the political agenda with a group of demonstrators appearing in court as opposition lawmakers were physically thrown out of a legislative meeting for the second time in 10 days.
Airport blocked over $5 fare hike
STUFF says the New Caledonian airport of Lifou has been blocked by traditional leaders in protest at Air Caledonie raising its fares.
The action was foreshadowed on Thursday when the chiefs of the Wetr district rejected the hike of 350 francs (NZ$5.27) for a single Lifou to Noumea ticket and 700 francs (NZ$10.50) for a return ticket