Stories for March 31st 2020

Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 12:58 UTC
Foreign debt must wait: “the pandemic and Argentines' health are priorities”

Honoring foreign debt will have to wait because given the coronavirus pandemic priority is now the health of the Argentines, said president Alberto Fernandez on Monday, adding he would not let local companies fire o declare workers redundant.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 12:45 UTC
Argentina expected to make a symbolic US$ 225 million interest payment

Argentina will layout “guideposts” this week for a restructuring of its nearly US$70 billion in foreign debt, but the country is not yet ready to make a formal proposal to creditors, according to political sources in Buenos Aires.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 12:24 UTC
Argentine jigger fleet begins operating north of parallel 44o. as of April first

Argentine jiggers will begin operating north of parallel 44o on April first, following on a decision from the Fisheries Under Secretariat chief, Carlos Liberman. The Fisheries Federal Council is impeded of meeting because of the coronavirus pandemic rules imposed in Argentina. Anyhow the decision was taken based on a report from the Inidep research institute.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 11:48 UTC
The ordeal of the Zaandam: Florida state is rejecting to receive any passengers

United States Senator Rick Scott is calling for protective measures for Floridians ahead of the Holland America’s Zaandam and Rotterdam expected arrival at Port Everglades.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 11:44 UTC
Taiwan complains of WHO discrimination and information restriction

The World Health Organization (WHO) has not shared with member states information Taiwan has provided on the coronavirus including details on its causes and prevention methods, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday, ratcheting up its complaints.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 09:20 UTC
Spain overtakes China in Coronavirus infections; business leaders warn of impact on jobs with the lockdown

Spain overtook China in the number of those infected with coronavirus on Monday as the government tightened restrictions on a population entering its third week under one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 09:20 UTC
Bolsonaro insists with his campaign to get the economy moving; Facebook censors the Brazilian president

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday that there can be no more quarantine measures imposed on the country than those already in place to combat coronavirus because jobs are being destroyed and the poor are suffering disproportionately.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 09:17 UTC
Pandemic: Sweden fears overreaction and follows a relaxed strategy

A growing number of Swedish doctors and scientists are raising alarm over the Swedish government’s approach to COVID-19. Unlike its Nordic neighbors, Sweden has adopted a relatively relaxed strategy, seemingly assuming that overreaction is more harmful than under-reaction.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 09:10 UTC
Tokyo Olympics, “Triumph over Coronavirus” to be held Jul 23 to Aug 8 2021

The Tokyo Olympics will begin on Jul 23 next year, organizers said on Monday, after the coronavirus forced the historic decision to postpone the Games until 2021.
Tuesday, March 31st 2020 - 09:07 UTC
Saudi Arabia wants to be Oil King again and lets prices collapse

Saudi Arabia said on Monday it will raise its oil exports to a record 10.6 million barrels per day starting from May despite a global supply glut, escalating a price war with Russia. Oil prices are languishing at 17-year lows as the coronavirus pandemic threatens a painful global recession that could further sap demand.