Stories for March 12th 2020

Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Coronavirus: Trump locks out all travel from Europe for 30 days and pledges financial relief to small businesses

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the U.S. would restrict all travel from Europe for the next 30 days and use executive orders to offer financial relief to individuals and small businesses in his most extensive steps to date to address the crisis of the coronavirus.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 08:50 UTC
WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic and warns about “alarming levels of inaction”

The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic on Wednesday as it spreads in more than 100 countries around the world. WHO defines a pandemic as “the worldwide spread of a new disease.” The determination is based on the geographic spread of a disease, the severity of illnesses it causes, and its effects on society.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:52 UTC
Brazilian stocks plunged on Wednesday; second day in the week trading had to be suspended

Brazilian stocks plunged on Wednesday on fears about the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, leading the Sao Paulo stock exchange to suspend trading for the second time this week.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:48 UTC
With local elections looming, Brazilian congress overturns Bolsonaro veto on social spending

Brazil's Congress overturned a presidential veto on Wednesday in an ongoing battle over appropriations with President Jair Bolsonaro, doubling social assistance for elderly and disabled people that will cost an extra 20 billion reais (US$ 4.2 billion) this year.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:41 UTC
Merkel warns that up to 70% of German population could contract coronavirus

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that up to 70% of the country's population - some 58 million people - could contract the coronavirus. Mrs Merkel made the stark prediction at a news conference on Wednesday alongside Health Minister Jens Spahn.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:40 UTC
Brazil February inflation, 0,25%, the lowest since the same month in 2000

Brazilian inflation rose more than expected in February, official figures showed on Wednesday, although the monthly increase was still the lowest for any February in 20 years.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:35 UTC
Coronavirus: Bank of England cuts interest rate 50 basis points to 0.25%

The Bank of England (BOE), the UK's central bank, cut interest rates by 0.5 percentage points on Wednesday morning as part of an emergency response to the coronavirus, or COVID-19.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:31 UTC
Brazilian lawmaker sponsors bill to punish corrupt politicians with amputation of both hands

A lawmaker who says Brazil is not doing enough to fight rampant political corruption put forward a bill on Tuesday that would punish any politician convicted of the graft with amputation of both hands.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:15 UTC
NBA suspends all matches following on Rudy Gobert testing Covid 19 positive

The National Basketball Association has announced that it will suspend all games after Wednesday night until further notice, following a player on the Utah Jazz testing positive for COVID-19. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in response to the coronavirus pandemic,” the association said in a statement.