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Added on the 04/08/2016 08:58:31 - Copyright : Reuters - Next Media
The Wall Street Journal recently revealed that U.S. President Barack Obama sanctioned the $400 million delivery of cash to Iran in January of this year. The cash was delivered on the same day Tehran released four American prisoners, although U.S. officials maintain that was merely a coincidence and the money was not in exchange for the Americans’ release.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it will send more than one million polio vaccines to war-torn Gaza after the virus was detected in wastewater there. The UN agency's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adds that the vaccines "will be administered in the coming weeks". SOUNDBITE
The White House denies that the unfreezing of $6 billion of Iranian funds to help secure the release of five US citizens was effectively a ransom payment. "This is not a payment of any kind. It's not ransom," says White House national security spokesman John Kirby, pushing back against criticism of the deal. SOUNDBITE
The United States is sending a new batch of military assistance to Ukraine, with the $450 million shipment including more rocket systems to use against Russian invasion forces. "This package contains weapons and equipment, including new High Mobility Artillery Rocket systems," National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby says at a White House briefing. Also included are tens of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition and patrol boats. SOUNDBITE
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces that the EU will join the Covax facility, a global access scheme for a vaccine against Covid-19 launched by the WHO and designed to ensure equitable access to coronavirus vaccines, and will contribute 400 million euros in guarantees to support Covax and its objectives. SOUNDBITE
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