International

• Friday, May 22nd 2020 - 07:25 UTC

  China plans to increase 6,6% defense spending in fiscal year

  

  China's defense spending this year will rise 6.6% from 2019, according to a report issued at the opening of the country's annual meeting of parliament on Friday, a slower rate than last year.

• Friday, May 22nd 2020 - 07:15 UTC

  Working mothers bear the brunt of pandemic: spend an average 65 hours a week

  Working mothers in Europe and the United States are taking on most of the extra housework and childcare created by lockdown, and many are struggling to cope, a survey showed on Thursday.

• Thursday, May 21st 2020 - 10:01 UTC

  Bolivian health minister and IDB officials involved in corrupt purchase of ventilators

  

  Bolivia's interim president, Jeanine Anez, on Wednesday fired Health Minister Marcelo Navajas for his alleged role in a kickback scheme involving the purchase of 170 Spanish-made ventilators at inflated prices for COVID-19 patients.

• Thursday, May 21st 2020 - 08:55 UTC

  Argentina and creditors find a path to reach an understanding and avoid default

  

  Argentina’s Economy Minister Martin Guzman has hinted that make-or-break talks with international creditors are likely to continue beyond the looming May 22 deadline. It has tentatively elevated hopes that the crisis-prone country will be able to avoid its ninth sovereign debt default.

• Thursday, May 21st 2020 - 08:29 UTC

  US Senate votes a bill targeting Chinese companies' opacity in US exchanges

  

  The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Wednesday that could prevent some Chinese companies from listing their shares on U.S. exchanges unless they follow standards for U.S. audits and regulations.

• Thursday, May 21st 2020 - 08:25 UTC

  Trump accuses China of “mass worldwide killing” because of its “incompetence”

  

  US President Donald Trump on Wednesday again lashed out at China over the coronavirus pandemic, blaming Beijing for “mass Worldwide killing.” His morning tweet, which also referred to an unidentified “wacko in China,” was the latest heated rhetoric from the White House, where Trump is making attacks on Beijing a centerpiece of his November re-election bid.

• Thursday, May 21st 2020 - 07:10 UTC

  Vice Admiral Sir David Steel appointed governor of Gibraltar

  

  The government of Gibraltar welcomes the appointment of Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE, DL as Governor of Gibraltar.

• Wednesday, May 20th 2020 - 22:02 UTC

  In post-pandemic, making the transport sector “green” could create 15 million new jobs, ILO

  

  Transforming the transport sector to be more environmentally-friendly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, could create up to 15 million new jobs worldwide and help countries move to greener, healthier economies, according to an UN-backed report published on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, May 20th 2020 - 08:55 UTC

  British supermarkets and EU investors warn Brazil if an Amazon contentious bill is approved in congress

  

  British supermarkets have warned Brazil they might have to boycott its products if lawmakers there pass a contentious bill that could enable faster destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

• Tuesday, May 19th 2020 - 08:59 UTC

  Brazil has the third largest number of coronavirus cases in the world

  

  Brazil has the third-highest number of novel coronavirus cases in the world, according to official figures released on Monday, a troubling surge for a country struggling to respond to the pandemic.