Stories for June 18th 2020

Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 13:30 UTC
Chile heading for its worst economic contraction in 35 years, central bank

The Chilean central bank said on Wednesday that the economy of the world’s top copper producer would contract between 5.5% and 7.5% in 2020, taking it to the lowest levels since the Latin American debt crisis of the 1980s.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 12:40 UTC
Macron puts on De Gaulle boots and visits UK in a symbolic anniversary

French President Emmanuel Macron travels to Britain this Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a hugely symbolic visit and his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 12:36 UTC
Brazil retail sales plunge in April anticipating a major contraction of the economy

Brazilian retail sales plunged at a record pace in April as social isolation measures choked spending, official figures showed indicating the economy’s contraction in the second quarter could be even more severe than anticipated.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 12:32 UTC
Brazil slashes benchmark interest rate 75 basis points to a record low of 2,25%

Brazil’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 75 basis points to a record low of 2.25% on Wednesday, as expected, and said there was some room left for further monetary stimulus to support an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 12:29 UTC
Brazil's service sector slumped 11,7% in April on a year on year basis

Services activity in Brazil slumped 11.7% in April, figures showed on Wednesday, the biggest fall since comparable record-keeping began nearly a decade ago as social isolation measures to combat the COVID-19 outbreak slammed the economy into reverse.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 12:18 UTC
Peru with more virus contagion cases than hard hit Italy

Peru topped 240,000 total cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, surpassing hard-hit Italy, government data showed, even as the pace of infections has begun to moderate in the Andean nation.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 12:09 UTC
India, Mexico, Norway and Ireland chosen to the UN Security Council; defeat for Canada's Trudeau

The UN General Assembly elected on Wednesday four new members of the Security Council for 2021 and 2022, with Canada losing out again and the battle for the African seat going to a second round.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 11:15 UTC
EU conditions post-Brexit UK talks and looks ahead to three months of intense discussions

The European Union's chief executive, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Wednesday that the bloc will do its best to seal an agreement on new ties with Britain by the end of the year but will not compromise its core values, notably on fair competition.
Thursday, June 18th 2020 - 10:15 UTC
LATAM's Argentina branch will cease operations indefinitely; 1,715 staff to be laid off

LATAM Airlines Group said on Wednesday its Argentine subsidiary will cease operations indefinitely, cancelling all domestic flights, its first major cutback since filing for bankruptcy protection. The announcement fell short of saying the company, Latin America’s largest airline, will entirely wind down its subsidiary, although it is unclear if it will ever resume operations.