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April
EU backs US plan for Venezuela transitional government
Written by nuke
The European Union on Friday welcomed a US plan for a transitional government in Venezuela and subsequent lifting of economic sanctions. Washington last month suggested that both hard left President Nicolas Maduro and his rival Juan Guaido -- previously backed by the US -- step aside in favour of a transitional administration made up of members of both their parties. As quoted by AFP.com (04/4) the shift in US tactics came as fears grow that the coronavirus pandemic will spread rapidly both inside and from Venezuela, an oil-wealthy nation now crumbling in an economic crisis. EU's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said in a statement on behalf of all 27 members of the bloc that the European Union takes positive note of the Democratic Transition Framework on Venezuela proposed by the United States//AFP
April
Putin says Russia ready to cooperate on cutting oil production
Written by nuke
President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Russia is ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and the United States to cut oil production. As quoted by AFP.com (04/4) Putin said Russia was willing to make agreements within the framework of the OPEC+ group and that "we are ready for cooperation with the United States of America on this issue. Putin believes that it is necessary to combine efforts in order to balance the market and reduce production.Oil prices have tumbled in recent weeks in the face of a drop in demand and global economic uncertainty over the new coronavirus pandemic.Last month, OPEC and its allies failed to reach a deal on oil production cuts after OPEC+ leader Moscow refused to tighten supply to counter the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Speaking with Energy Minister Alexander Novak via conference call, Putin said Russia was prepared to discuss "a reduction in the volume of about 10 million barrels a day, a little less, maybe a little more//AFP
April
The price of crude oil surged again Friday after OPEC said it would talk to non-members, notably Russia, giving investors hope for an end to a price war which has created market chaos along with crushed demand because of the coronavirus.As quoted by AFP.com ( 04/4) OPEC oil producers and their allies will meet Monday via video conference, a source close to the cartel said. And Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country was ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and the United States on a production cut. OANDA analyst Craig Erlam told AFP that there's certainly a lot of optimism that a deal is going to be done.Despite the happy talk in the oil sector, global stock markets fell following another set of devastating American employment numbers, gloomy eurozone services data and news that the number of declared COVID-19 infections passed one million worldwide//AFP
April
Coronavirus: Queen to address country on Sunday as deaths rise
Written by nuke
The queen will speak to the nation on sunday about the coronavirus outbreak - as the number of people who died with the virus rose by 684 in 24 hours. Buckingham palace said the message, recorded at windsor castle, will be broadcast on tv and radio at 20:00 bst. The queen, 93, records annual christmas messages but other addresses are rare. the department of health said that as of 17:00 bst on 2 april, the number of deaths was 3,605, up from 2,921. there are 38,168 confirmed cases. In scotland, the number of deaths has risen by 46, while in wales a further 24 people died. in ni, the number of people who died with coronavirus has risen by 12. The queen's address will be broadcast on tv, radio and social media, buckingham palace said. she has been staying at windsor castle since mid-march as a precaution. It is only her fourth special address at a time of national crisis during her 68-year reign. the other occasions were after the queen mother's death in 2002, ahead of diana, princess of wales's funeral in 1997, and during the first gulf war in 1991. The queen also made a televised address to mark her diamond jubilee in 2012. The monarch, 93, released a statement about the outbreak last month, when the number of uk deaths stood at 144. She said the uk was "entering a period of great concern and uncertainty" and praised the work of scientists, medics and emergency staff, saying everyone has a "vitally important part to play"//BBC
April
Americans urged to wear masks outside as coronavirus pandemic worsens
Written by nuke
The Trump administration appeared to join local officials on Thursday in advising Americans to wear masks when venturing out during the still-exploding coronavirus pandemic, as the U.S. death toll rose by 1,000 in a single day for the first time. Speaking at a White House briefing, Deborah Birx, a member of President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would issue guidelines in the coming days on the use of face coverings. As of Thursday evening the U.S. death toll from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus, stood at 5,821, with more than 241,000 positive cases across all 50 states. Global cases surpassed 1 million on Thursday with more than 52,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally based on country by country data//Reuters
April
Coronavirus: Oil prices surge on hopes of a price war truce
Written by nuke
Signs that Saudi Arabia and Russia may end an oil feud sent prices up more than 20% on Wednesday, the biggest one-day leap on record. US President Donald Trump said he expected the two sides to cut supply, while Saudi Arabia called for an emergency meeting of oil producers. The Russian energy minister also said his country may re-enter talks. A deal to cut production - in response to the drop in demand from coronavirus shutdowns - collapsed last month. Since then, the cost of crude has fallen to lows not seen for almost two decades as Russia and Saudi Arabia slashed prices and ramped up production in a fight for market share. Those moves, alongside the wider collapse in demand, have caused US oil to its worst quarter on record. Prices fell by two thirds in the first three months of the year, rocking the American energy sector. The international benchmark, Brent crude, rose 21% to finish at $29.94 a barrel and the price of US oil, known as West Texas Intermediate (WTI), jumped almost 25% to $25.32. Both were record gains. A cut of 10 million barrels per day would amount to about 10% of global output//BBC
April
World Bank approves initial US$1.9b in emergency coronavirus funds
Written by nuke
The World Bank on Thursday (Apr 2) said it had approved an initial US$1.9 billion in emergency funds for coronavirus response operations in 25 developing countries, with more than half the aid earmarked to help fight the fast-spreading disease in India. Action on projects in scores of emerging market countries is expected in the coming days and weeks, the World Bank said. In addition, the bank said it was working to redeploy resources in existing World Bank financed projects worth up to US$1.7 billion. The bank has said it is prepared to spend up to US$160 billion over the next 15 months to combat the pandemic. World Bank Group President David Malpass said the institutional lender was moving quickly to strengthen the ability of developing countries to respond to the virus, and shorten the time to economic and social recovery//Reuters
April
Australia says true coronavirus infections could be as high as 10 million cases
Written by Wenny ZuliantiAs many as 10 million people globally may have been infected by the new coronavirus, Australia's chief medical officer said on Friday, with the under-reporting due to a lack of testing in some countries for the highly contagious respiratory disease.
A Reuters tally of official data on Friday pegged the number of COVID-19 cases caused by the virus at 1 million, but Australia's chief medical officer said the true size of the global outbreak may be up to 10 times higher.
"Worldwide we have passed 1 million infections. But we believe the true number is five or 10 times as much," Brendan Murphy told reporters.
Murphy said the mortality rates vary so much around the world that he believes many infections are going undetected.
The World Health Organization has called on countries to significantly increase testing for coronavirus, while some critics have also highlighted differences in how some countries count coronvirus cases.
China - where the outbreak began late last year - has only recently started counting asymptomatic cases of coronavirus, prompting criticism from some international experts.
Without criticizing China or any other countries, Murphy said he did not trust any data beyond Australia's.
"The only numbers I have total faith in are the Australian numbers, frankly."
April
China reports 1,300 asymptomatic virus cases after public concern
Written by nuke
China on Wednesday said it has more than 1,300 asymptomatic coronavirus cases, the first time it has released such data following public concern over people who have tested positive but are not showing symptoms. As quoted by AFP.com (01/4), Health officials also reported the first imported case from abroad in Wuhan -- the epicentre where the virus first emerged late last year -- heightening fears of infections being brought into China from other countries. Of 36 new cases reported Wednesday, 35 were imported from abroad. The National Health Commission (NHC) said 1,367 asymptomatic patients were under medical observation, with 130 new cases added in the last day. The NHC announced Tuesday that it would respond "to public concerns" by starting to publish daily data on asymptomatic cases, which it said were infectious. There were mass calls online calls for the information after authorities revealed over the weekend that an infected woman in Henan province had been in close contact with three asymptomatic cases//AFP
April
US Navy evacuates virus-struck aircraft carrier Roosevelt
Written by nuke
The US Navy is evacuating thousands of sailors from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in Guam after its captain warned a coronavirus outbreak was threatening the lives of the crew. As quoted by AFP.com (02/4) Ninety-three COVID-19 cases have been discovered among the 4,800-strong Roosevelt crew so far, according to the US Navy. Pentagon officials said Wednesday they were rapidly arranging hotel rooms on the Pacific island for many of the crew, while organizing a skeleton team of uninfected sailors to keep the ship operational. Rear Admiral John Menoni, commander for the Marianas region, told reporters in Guam on Wednesday that the plan at this time is to remove as many people off the Teddy Roosevelt as the government can, understanding that we have to leave a certain amount of folks on-board to perform normal watch-standing duties that keep the ship running. Speaking in Washington, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said that almost 1,000 of the crew had been removed, and the number would rise to 2,700 within a couple days, and more after that//AFP
