World leaders pledge US$8bil to fight Covid-19 but US steers clear

World leaders and organisations pledged US$8 billion to research, manufacture and distribute a possible vaccine and treatments for Covid-19 on Monday, but the United States refused to contribute to the global effort.

Organisers included the European Union and non-EU countries Britain, Norway and Saudi Arabia. Leaders from Japan, Canada, South Africa and dozens of other countries joined the virtual event, while China, where the virus is believed to have originated, was only represented by its ambassador to the European Union.