Europe

GENEVA, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) –The World Health Organization (WHO) said the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern following the emergence of fresh cases.

The announcement on Tuesday came just a day after the country had been expected to announce that its outbreak – the tenth recorded in its history and by far its largest – was over.

ROME, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy allowed bookshops and children’s clothing retailers to reopen on Tuesday but some business owners chose to stay shut, fearing it was too soon to lift the coronavirus lockdown.

Launderettes and stationery shops were also permitted to reopen on Tuesday as the government sought to gradually lift stringent lockdown measures imposed on March 9.

But not every shop owner rushed to reopen.

BERLIN, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of deaths in Germany from the Coronavirus has surpassed those reported by China, according to statistics released on Wednesday by local health authorities.

Data analysis firm Risklayer and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, which compiles real-time figures from nearly 400 local authorities, reported 301 new deaths over the past 24 hours, bringing the toll to 3,495.

PARIS, April 15. /TASS/: French President Emmanuel Macron hopes that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will join his initiative on global ceasefire amid the coronavirus pandemic, he told Radio France Internationale Wednesday.

“I discussed this with Putin initially, when I first proposed this initiative. I did not talk with him again since I received decisive confirmation from other leaders. I hope to do it a few hours later," Macron said.

ST. PETERSBURG, April 15. /TASS/: An Aeroflot flight carrying more than 270 Russian citizens who had been stranded in the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic arrived at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport, the press service of Northern Capital Gateway, the management company of Pulkovo Airport, informed TASS on Wednesday.

"The plane landed at 10:35 Moscow time," the press service said. After part of the passengers leave the plane at Pulkovo, it is due to depart for Moscow.

MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/: E-passes, employer’s certificates, itinerary lists or other similar documents are required for residents of 41 out of the 85 Russian regions when they leave their homes, according to statements and legislative acts issued by regional governments.

The self-isolation regime, either obligatory or recommended, has been declared in all Russian regions.

Novel coronavirus cases have been reported in 83 out of the 85 Russian administrative entities. Only the Altai Republic and Chukotka have reported no cases so far.

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/: The market for unmanned vehicles, including in Russia, will be forming for at least another 10 years, since this is a very long and complicated process, Cognitive Pilot CEO Olga Uskova said in an interview with TASS.

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/: Russia’s coronavirus case count has grown by 3,388 over the past day to 24,490 in 84 regions, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Wednesday.

The Altai Republic is the only Russian region, which has not been affected by the deadly virus. A total of 1,986 people have recovered from the disease and 198 people have died.

15 April 2020; AFP: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called for a moratorium on the debt of African countries as "an essential step" to help the continent get through the coronavirus crisis.

Speaking in an interview with Radio France Internationale, Macron urged G20 finance ministers meeting Wednesday to take action on a moratorium as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to overwhelm the fragile health systems of the poorest countries.

The moratorium would be a first step towards full cancellation of African debt, he said.

LONDON/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco has offered oil refineries in Asia and Europe the option to defer payments for crude cargo deliveries by up to 90 days as plants struggle with shrinking demand, refining industry sources said.

The credit terms, which Saudi Arabia’s national oil company has offered through unnamed Saudi banks, are also seen as part of the country’s efforts to increase its market share, the sources told Reuters.