EU pledges nearly €5bn to help vulnerable countries
An update now on the online coronavirus summit. The head of the European Commmission, Ursula von der Leyen, who is co-hosting the event, pledged a further €4.9bn ($5.5bn) from the EU to help vulnerable countries finance their recovery from the pandemic.
She said that what was needed was a multilateralist approach to the development and distribution of vaccines:
“To think that you can beat this virus by vaccinating only your own people while neglecting the others is just plain wrong. I mean we live in a very connected world.
“No country will be able to go back to normal while others are still fighting the virus. So first we need a vaccine, then we need to make this vaccine affordable and for that I’m trying to convince high-income countries to reserve vaccines not only for themselves but also for low- and middle-income countries and this is what our campaign, Global Goal Unite For our Future, is all about.”
Drinkers at large illegal gathering dispersed by Cardiff police
More news now on the string of illegal parties that have taken place recently in the UK.
Police say they broke up an illegal gathering in Cardiff Bay just after midnight on Friday, following reports of anti-social behaviour involving a large number of people drinking alcohol.
The group was dispersed and no arrests were made, South Wales Police said.
It follows several illegal parties in London – where police have been injured in clashes with revellers – while Liverpool’s mayor says people are bringing the city into disrepute by continuing to take part in mass celebrations following Liverpool FC’s Premier League win.
Under coronavirus lockdown rules in Wales any number of people from two households can meet up, while in England up to six people can gather from different households. Read our explainer on the rules here.
