Wednesday 20 May
- Coronavirus live updates: cases top 4.9 million.
- Japan may lift the State of Emergency this week.
- Ministers under pressure over schools return date.
- Thousands of cancer patients may die early due to coronavirus, study finds.
- Brazil suffers record daily Covid-19 death toll as Trump considers travel ban.
- WHO member states agree to independent investigation.
Coronavirus: live updates
CNN says at least 4.9 million cases of Covid-19 have been recorded worldwide, including at least 323,000 deaths.
In the US, President Trump defended his use of hydroxychloroquine, an unproven prophylactic for the virus. The death toll in the US is nearing 92,000.
In Brazil, the country recorded more than 17,400 new cases in its biggest single-day spike during the pandemic.
Read the full story on CNN
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Japan may lift state of emergency for Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo this week
Japan Times says Japan is considering lifting a state of emergency in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo later this week as the number of new coronavirus infections in each of the three prefectures has remained low, government officials said Tuesday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make a final decision on Thursday after hearing from health experts, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Read the full story on Japan Times
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Ministers under pressure over schools return date
BBC News says ministers are facing further pressure from council leaders and teaching unions to reconsider plans to reopen English primary schools to some pupils from 1 June.
At least 11 councils have expressed opposition amid safety concerns or warned they will not be ready in time.
Teaching union NASUWT said it remained “unconvinced” reopening schools was “appropriate or practicable.”
Read the full story on BBC News
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Cancer: Thousands of patients could die early due to coronavirus delay, study finds
The Guardian says a fifth of coronavirus infections among hospital patients and almost nine in 10 infections among healthcare workers may have been caught in hospital, researchers have revealed.
The study, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, was released by a team of researchers from Public Health England (PHE) and is based on computer models of transmission of Covid-19 within hospitals.
Read the full story on The Guardian
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Brazil suffers record daily Covid-19 death toll, Trump considers travel ban
France24 says Brazil’s daily death toll from the new coronavirus jumped to a record 1,179 on Tuesday as President Jair Bolsonaro doubled down on chloroquine as a possible remedy and US leader Donald Trump said he was considering a travel ban from Brazil.
The highest daily toll before Tuesday had been 881 deaths on May 12. The pandemic has killed at least 17,971 people in Brazil, according to the Health Ministry.
Read the full story on France24
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WHO member states agree to an independent investigation of agency’s coronavirus response
RT News says member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed on Tuesday to an independent probe into the UN agency’s coronavirus response. Countries taking part in the WHO’s annual assembly adopted a resolution by consensus urging a joint response to the crisis. The event was held virtually for the first time.
Read the full story on RT News
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A quick look at the other top stories from around the world.
Cancer lawsuits lead Johnsons & Johnsons to stop selling baby power
The Independent says Johnson & Johnson will stop selling talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in the US and Canada, where demand has dwindled amid thousands of lawsuits claiming it has caused cancer.
Captain Tom Moore to be knighted for raising millions for the NHS
Euronews says British army veteran Tom Moore is to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for raising £33m for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) by walking laps of his garden ahead of his 100th birthday last month.
Sudan inflation hits 99% due to soaring food prices
AfricaNews says Sudan’s inflation rate has risen further to 99% in April due to rising food prices, the Sudanese Central Bureau of Statistics announced on Saturday.
This rate had already risen to 82% the previous month, over one year. But rising prices for grains, meat, milk and bread have further increased inflation.
Palestinian president declares an end to all agreements with Israel and US
Arab News says Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared on Tuesday an end to all agreements signed with Israel and the United States.
The president made the announcement during an emergency meeting in Ramallah to discuss Israel’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
Football: FC Seoul apologies for ‘sex dolls’ in stands
BBC News says it is a challenge for sports leagues across the world – if play can only resume in empty stadiums, how can the atmosphere be improved?
However, not many clubs will be rushing to follow the example of FC Seoul.
The top-flight South Korean side has apologised after fans accused them of using sex dolls in the stands.
