EUROPEAN LEADERS ENTREATY : VACCINE FUNDING

European leaders push vaccine financing drive :

LONDON : European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros [Pound 6.6 billion, $8.3 billion] to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, outlined the fund raising plan for an international effort to find a a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19 on Friday.

An online pledging conference will take place on Monday to plug gaps in financing of research.

Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel gave their support in an open letter published in weekend newspapers.

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, and Norway's Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, also signed and and all gave their backing to the World Health Organization in the face of the US criticism about its handling of the crisis. [AFP]