International

• 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.

• Friday, March 27th 2020 - 09:01 UTC

  Nothing to celebrate on the 25th anniversary of the EU open border Schengen agreement

  

  The European Union marked the 25th anniversary of its open-border Schengen agreement on Thursday with all its land borders shut or subject to heavy checks imposed in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

• Friday, March 27th 2020 - 08:52 UTC

  Xi calls Trump to improve bilateral ties; offers to help combat coronavirus

  

  Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Friday that he hopes the United States will take substantive action to improve bilateral ties, China's foreign ministry said.