Stories for March 2020

Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Bolsonaro clashes with governors over lockdowns: “they are destroying Brazil”

President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday blasted as criminals the governors and mayors of Brazil’s largest states and cities for imposing lockdowns to slow the coronavirus outbreak, as tensions with his health minister simmered. The death toll rose to 57 from 46 while confirmed cases rose to 2,433 from 2,201 the day before.
Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:45 UTC
Argentine economy contracted 2,2% last year and could drop another 2% in 2020

Argentina's GDP contracted 2.2% last year, hit by the downfall of manufacturing, retail and financial activities, according to the official stats office, Indec. In the last quarter of 2019 the economy dropped 1% over the previous quarter and 1.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:44 UTC
South American countries agree to ensure smooth flow of goods and food supplies in the region

Agriculture ministers from various South American countries participated in a video conference on Monday, March 23, to discuss harmonization of standards and ensure the smooth flow of goods and food supplies throughout the region during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:40 UTC
Spain extends state of emergency two weeks after it reported 783 deaths in one day

Spain extended its state of emergency for two more weeks to allow the government to extend stringent lockdown measures in a desperate attempt to contain the coronavirus. Spain reported 738 new deaths in one day on Wednesday while Italy announced 683. The two countries have the highest fatality rate in the global pandemic.
Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:27 UTC
Argentina's “Children and youth protection project” receives US$ 300 million from World Bank

The World Bank Board of Directors approved a new US$ 300 million operation to support Argentina’s efforts to strengthen its social protection system and minimize the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable families.
Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:25 UTC
Pandemic: total lockdown in Colombia; Chile extends schools closure until May

Countries across Latin America tightened measures on Wednesday to halt the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, with more lockdowns and school closures as well as increased aid to the region's poorest.
Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:21 UTC
Falklands testing ground for satellite system that could revolutionize mobile connectivity

A new satellite system that could revolutionize mobile connectivity has been tested successfully, setting a new world record in the process, according to its inventor. Tyghe Spiedel is the co-founder of Lynk, a company that builds very small satellites designed to communicate with standard mobile phones.
Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:01 UTC
World Bank and IMF call on bilateral creditors to suspend payments from poor countries

The World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund have issued the following joint statement to the G20 concerning debt relief for the poorest countries:
Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 08:56 UTC
Pandemics: Bolsonaro and governors clash over priorities, the economy and jobs or public health

Brazil's largest city of Sao Paulo began fifteen days of lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus on Tuesday. This after Brazil's own president, Jair Bolsonaro, has faced fierce criticism for his blasé treatment to combat the threat, which he describes as a quote “little flu.”
Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
YPF admits gasoline demand is down 70% and diesel 50%

Argentine state-run oil company YPF has already seen a drop in energy consumption because of a nationwide mandatory quarantine over the coronavirus announced last Friday, a company executive said in an internal video obtained by La Nacion on Tuesday and confirmed by the company.