Stories for March 11th 2020

Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 10:09 UTC
Paraguay reports that five cases have tested positive to Covid-19, and 25 are under quarantine

Paraguay confirmed that five cases have tested positive to Covid-19, and announced it was closing all schools and universities, public and private, and suspending all public and private activities that involve crowding people, for the next fifteen days.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 10:00 UTC
Falklands updates its Travel Advisory concerning COVID-19

The Government of the Falklands updated its advice on travelling to the Islands, in response to a further change in the global COVID-19 situation. The Italian Government this week announced emergency measures across the entire country in response to the virus.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 09:11 UTC
Uruguay abandons Unasur and rejoins the TIAR reciprocal assistance treaty

The Uruguayan government announced on Tuesday that it was withdrawing from the Union of South American Nations, Unasur and returning to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, TIAR.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Brazil downplays the threat of coronavirus: “it is overstated”

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro minimized the threat of the new coronavirus - which has killed nearly 4,000 people in more than 60 countries and tanked global financial markets, saying its destructive power has been “overstated”.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:50 UTC
Venezuelan riot police break up an opposition led demonstration in Caracas

Venezuelan riot police fired tear gas on Tuesday to break up a demonstration in Caracas called by opposition leader Juan Guaido as he seeks to ramp up demands for elections to replace populist President Nicolas Maduro.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:49 UTC
Oil prices with slight recovery on Tuesday but market volatility remains

Oil, which plunged about 25% on Monday, rebounded on Tuesday along with equities and other financial markets. Brent futures rose US$2.69, or 7.8%, to US$37.05 a barrel by 2:24 p.m. EDT (1824 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$2.73, or 8.8 percent, to US$33.86.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:46 UTC
Bolsonaro promotes a demonstration criticized by the Legislative and Judiciary

Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro called on his backers to take to the streets next weekend to show their support for him, even as critics said such a demonstration would be anti-democratic.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:45 UTC
Corporate America rushes to borrow money in anticipation of a major economic downturn

From Exxon Mobil Corp to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, companies rushed to borrow more money and boost their cash coffers on Tuesday, as the market turmoil fueled by a plunge in oil prices and the global coronavirus outbreak raised the prospect of an economic downturn.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:41 UTC
Poachers in Kenya kill the only female white giraffe and her calf

Kenya's only female white giraffe and her calf have been killed by poachers, conservationists said on Tuesday, in a major blow for the rare animals found nowhere else in the world.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:39 UTC
UK junior health minister tests positive for Covid 19, and is self isolated at home

British Member of Parliament (MP) Nadine Dorries, a junior health minister, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, she said in a statement on Tuesday. “I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus ... and have been self-isolating at home,” said the Conservative MP.