International

Monday, March 30th 2020 - 09:05 UTC
Zaandam and Rotterdam on their way to Florida, where strict debarkation measures await

Holland America Zaandam cruise ship, carrying four bodies and scores of patients with coronavirus-like symptoms, has been given permission to cross the Panama Canal, allowing them to continue their journey toward Florida, the cruise line’s president said Sunday.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 08:50 UTC
Cleaner air in European cities as nitrogen dioxide levels drop with lockdowns

Air pollution has decreased in urban areas across Europe during lockdowns to combat the corona-virus, new satellite images showed on Monday, but campaigners warned city-dwellers were still more vulnerable to the epidemic. Cities including Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Frankfurt showed a reduction in average levels of noxious nitrogen dioxide over Mar 5-25, compared with the same period last year, according to the Sentinel-5 satellite images.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 07:36 UTC
Pandemic: Sweden avoids draconian measures of the rest of European countries

While swathes of Europe's population endure lockdown conditions in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, one country stands almost alone in allowing life to go on much closer to normal. After a long winter, it's just become warm enough to sit outside in the Swedish capital and people are making the most of it.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 07:22 UTC
Germany does not discard another huge financial package to prop the economy

Germany's 750 billion euro (US$834 billion) package to soften the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Europe's largest economy will last for about two months, an independent economic think tank told a German newspaper group.
Saturday, March 28th 2020 - 08:54 UTC
A bright sight from coronavirus: industry and transport emissions in three EU cities down 40%

Air pollution from nitrogen dioxide has fallen by an estimated 40% in three European cities, according to new satellite data released by the European Space Agency (ESA), coinciding with a widespread lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Saturday, March 28th 2020 - 08:54 UTC
It's official: IMF says pandemic has driven the global economy into recession

The coronavirus pandemic has driven the global economy into a downturn that will require massive funding to help developing nations, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.
Saturday, March 28th 2020 - 08:52 UTC
Bolsonaro and governors clash over priorities and funds to combat the epidemic

Brazil’s governors pressed President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday for more federal support in the coronavirus battle after he blasted them as job-killers and undermined their orders with a decree keeping churches open at evangelical preachers’ request.
Saturday, March 28th 2020 - 08:50 UTC
ITUC praises Argentina for putting people first in fighting Covid 19

A new analysis from the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, of government responses from 69 countries to the COVID-19 pandemic has identified 12 governments that are putting people first as they tackle the economic fallout from lockdown measures to stem the spread of the virus.
Saturday, March 28th 2020 - 08:35 UTC
Boris Johnson and Health minister Hancock test positive for Covid 19

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating at his Downing Street residence but said he would still lead the government's response to the accelerating outbreak.
Saturday, March 28th 2020 - 08:34 UTC
S&P downgrades Mexico and oil giant Pemex credit ratings

S&P downgraded Mexico’s credit rating on Thursday as the coronavirus pandemic and a hit to state oil firm Pemex from plunging crude prices battered the growth outlook and piled pressure on the government to lift the struggling economy.