International

• Friday, March 27th 2020 - 08:21 UTC

  Norway's sovereign fund has lost US$ 124 billion because of the pandemic markets collapse

  

  Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, has lost 1.33 trillion Norwegian crowns (US$124 billion) so far this year as stock markets have plunged due to the coronavirus pandemic, it said on Thursday.

• Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 18:53 UTC

  IATA: Airlines need $US200 billion in liquidity to face “apocalypse”

  

  As passenger demand evaporated around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned airlines are fighting for survival. The airline association stated that airlines need $US200 billion in liquidity support as they face “apocalypse now.”

• 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 - 08:21 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 - 08:54 UTC

  Some of the things Covid 19 can be expected to change

  

  By Gwynne Dyer – They teach you in journalism school never to use the phrase “…X has changed the world forever”. Or at least they should. Covid-19 is certainly not going to change the world forever, but it is going to change quite a few things, in some cases for a long time. Here’s eight of them, in no particular order.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 08:37 UTC

  Announced US stimulus plan helps a slight recovery of oil prices

  

  Oil rose over 3% on Tuesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it would take steps to bolster the economy and on growing hopes the United States will soon reach a deal on a US$ 2 trillion coronavirus economic package.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 08:35 UTC

  Cruise vessel Zaandam prevented from disembarking in Chilean ports

  

  A cruise ship with more than 1,800 people aboard - including 42 complaining of flu-like symptoms - was prevented from docking in Chile due to fears over the coronavirus.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 08:30 UTC

  Bolsonaro calls Xi and defuses spat; Beijing pledges to help Brazil combat Covid 19

  

  Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro laid to rest a diplomatic spat with China in a call with President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, with the two agreeing to work together to fight coronavirus as Brazil’s largest city went into lockdown.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 08:25 UTC

  Los Angeles reports first death of teenager to Covid 19, despite good health condition

  

  The first known death of a child due to COVID-19 in the United States was a teenager in previously good health, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Tuesday.