Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 3,945,544 as of Saturday noon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the 55-member African Union (AU), said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 105,227, while some 3,522,230 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease. The Africa CDC noted that the most affected countries in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases are South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. South Africa has lost 50,566 lives to the disease, the most among African countries, according to the agency. Egypt and Morocco have the second and third highest fatalities, with 10,916 and 8,673 COVID-19-inflicted deaths, respectively, the Africa CDC said. The African Union had recently emphasized that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic "is not just a severe health emergency, … [Read more...] about Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 cases pass 3.94 mln mark: Africa CDC
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Visa-fee waiver for 21 countries as tourism slump sparks panic
by Kat Chanwanpen Visitors from 21 countries are getting their visa-on-arrival fee waived for 60 days, starting December 1. Amid declining numbers of visitors, notably from China, a desperate Cabinet yesterday agreed to waive the 2,000 baht visa-on-arrival fee for tourists from 21 countries for 60 days to try and revive one of the main engines of economic growth. Meanwhile, the government’s economic minister, Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak, yesterday made a deal in Shanghai with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to help promote Thailand as a tourist destination to Chinese people. Tourists from 20 countries plus Taiwan, whose nationals are already entitled to a visa on arrival, will be able to enjoy the fee waiver. The duration of stay, however, will remain unchanged at 15 days. Here’s the list of nationalities that will be able to take advantage of the visa-fee waiver… Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, … [Read more...] about Visa-fee waiver for 21 countries as tourism slump sparks panic
Boeing sued by more than 400 pilots in class action over 737 MAX ‘cover-up’
More than 400 pilots are involved in a class action against the US manufacturer of the 737 MAX seeking damages over what they allege was Boeing’s “unprecedented cover-up” of the “known design flaws” of the latest incarnation of its top-selling jet. • A plaintiff lodged claims against Boeing on behalf of hundreds of pilot peers alleging the company “knowingly” covered up the defective aspects of its 737 MAX jet. The claims focus on one piece of software pilots claim they weren’t told about – the MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System). • This latest lawsuit filed against Boeing marks the first class action lodged by pilots qualified to fly the 737 MAX series. They allege that Boeing’s decisions have caused them to suffer from monetary loss and mental distress since the plane’s grounding. • The originating plaintiff, known as Pilot X, who says he wants to remain anonymous for “fear of reprisal from Boeing , lodged the claim on Friday seeking damages for more than 400 … [Read more...] about Boeing sued by more than 400 pilots in class action over 737 MAX ‘cover-up’