GENEVA -- "I am not declaring a public health emergency of the international concern today," said the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in China. "As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of novel coronavirus represents a public health emergency of international concern or not."

"Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one," Tedros said, adding that WHO's risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally.

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UNITED NATIONS -- "I think education is a key element in any effort to achieve the SDGs (the Sustainable Development Goals)," said UN General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande in an exclusive interview with Xinhua one day before the International Day of Education, while giving a thumbs-up to China's success in education.

People must acquire skills and knowledge through education so they can deal with matters including the eradication of poverty, food production, defending human rights, building partnerships, meeting environmental challenges, and building infrastructure, he said.

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LAGOS -- Africa's leading e-commerce platform Jumia sees great potential in the Chinese e-commerce companies and expects to grow further in that direction in Africa, a senior executive of the global online shopping giant said here on Friday, shortly after the company announced a new chief executive officer in Nigeria.

"China's ICT and e-commerce companies have a good understanding of e-commerce, and China has an ecosystem that is probably closer to Africa than the United States and Europe, that is an inspiration for us, and we are following that direction to remain relevant in Africa," said Jeremy Hodara, Jumia's co-founder and co-CEO, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub.

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WASHINGTON -- "Trump abused his authority as commander-in-chief and chief diplomat to benefit himself," said Adam Schiff, lead manager of a group of seven Democratic prosecutors, who tried on Thursday to convince senators that President Donald Trump abused the power of his office, as his impeachment trial entered its third day.

"And he betrayed the interests of the American people when he did so," the California Democrat added. Enditem

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