Stories for April 18th 2020

Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 19:56 UTC
Argentina and Brazil trying to lift the water level of the Parana River, in the heartland of the soy belt

The governments of Argentina and Brazil are in talks to release water from the giant Itaipu Dam with a view to topping up the Parana River, where ebbing levels are conspiring against a US$ 20-billion-a-year crop export business.
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 18:55 UTC
Falklands Government unveils comprehensive COVID-19 support package

The Falkland Islands Government announced on Friday a suite of new measures to assist businesses, private sector employees and households as they adjust to the economic effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 16:42 UTC
Bolsonaro defends sacking health minister and insists in opening up the economy

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday defended his decision to restart economic activity in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, after sacking his health minister over differences in how to tackle the disease.
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 11:40 UTC
World Medical Association regrets Taiwan exclusion from WHO and condemns politicizing health

In a letter to WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the leaders of the World Medical Association, WMA say that the WHO’s failure to listen to early warnings from Taiwan about the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with its decision to ignore Taiwan during much of the SARS crisis, were errors that led to the world paying a high price.
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 10:00 UTC
Where to watch WHO’s global special concert ‘One World: Together At Home’

From Eddie Vedder to Andrea Bocelli, and Paul McCartney to Maluma, artists from all over the world will play on the “One World: #TogetherAtHome,” a six-hour streamed and broadcasted music festival that will take place on Saturday organized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 08:56 UTC
Overwhelmed by the pandemic, Ecuador on the cliff of a US$ 17bn default

The coronavirus outbreak in Ecuador is increasing pressure on President Lenin Moreno to default on US$ 17 billion in debt and devote more resources toward fighting a pandemic that has left bodies in the streets of the nation’s largest city.
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 08:41 UTC
Raab says China has some “hard questions” to answer about the coronavirus epidemic

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says China will have some “hard questions” to answer about how the coronavirus pandemic started.
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 08:30 UTC
Beijing's advance in UN organizations as Trump's US gives up its predominance

As President Donald Trump announces a halt in World Health Organization funding, accusing it of kowtowing to China over the coronavirus outbreak, Beijing is building on a well-established strategy of leveraging its global standing wherever the US lets go of the wheel.
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 08:20 UTC
British Horseracing Authority announces a £22 million aid package for jockeys and horses' welfare

The British Horseracing Authority announced on Friday a £22 million (US$27.5 million) aid package in response to the financial impact of the coronavirus. All racing in Britain was suspended on Mar 17 following the spread of COVID-19, with the shutdown made “indefinite” on Wednesday as a hoped-for resumption on Apr 30 was ruled out.
Saturday, April 18th 2020 - 08:15 UTC
“Italy and Brazil: ex World Cup '82 rivals united against the coronavirus”

They were rivals on the field in one of the greatest World Cup matches of all time but the former stars of Brazil and Italy have come together off it to help the South American nation fight the new coronavirus.