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HEALTH-VIRUS-WORLD FACTS
Coronavirus: latest global developments
PARIS, May 27, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in
the coronavirus crisis.
– Massive EU aid plan –
The European Union proposes a 750-billion-euro post-virus recovery
fund for Europe and urges sceptical member states to back it.
If passed, the proposal would be the biggest EU stimulus package in
history and could see Europe-wide taxes on plastics, carbon emissions
and big tech.
“This is Europe’s moment,” says EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen.
– Brazil deaths keep rising –
In virus hotspot Latin America, Brazil reports the highest daily
death toll in the world for the fifth straight day, pushing its total
to 24,512 with infections soaring to more than 390,000.
– More than 350,000 deaths –
The pandemic has killed 350,608 people worldwide since it surfaced
in China late last year, according to an AFP tally at 1100 GMT on
Wednesday, based on official sources.
The United States has recorded the most deaths with 98,929
fatalities. It is followed by Britain with 37,048, Italy with 32,955,
France with 28,530 and Spain with 27,117.
– France says no to hydroxychloroquine –
The French government says doctors can no longer treat COVID-19
patients with hydroxychloroquine, a controversial and potentially
harmful drug that the World Health Organization this week warned had
been shown to be potentially dangerous in several studies.
– Support for UK PM plunges –
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sees his public support suffer
the sharpest fall for a Conservative leader in a decade as he prepares
to be grilled by lawmakers over his handling of the scandal involving
top aide Dominic Cummings and his cross-country trip during lockdown.
– Automakers unite in crisis –
Struggling automakers Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi unveil a plan
to deepen their rocky alliance that would see them develop nearly half
of cars jointly by 2025 to cut costs and boost profitability.
– Air France slashes flights –
Air France-KLM will slash 40 percent of its French domestic flights
by next year in exchange for receiving seven billion euros ($7.7
billion) in emergency funding backed by the French state, the
company’s chief executive says.
BSS/AFP/MRU/2000hrs