
The death toll from a new coronavirus in mainland China jumped by 73 to 563 on Thursday, its third consecutive record daily rise, as experts intensified efforts to find a vaccine for a disease that has shut down Chinese cities and forced thousands more into quarantine around the world.

Argentina on Wednesday told the International Monetary Fund that Buenos Aires cannot continue servicing unsustainable debt, as the IMF encouraged it to enact efficient restructuring policies.

Pope Francis staged a surprise visit to admonish the International Monetary Fund chief and several finance ministers to help alleviate the debt burden of struggling countries, calling for “a new financial architecture” to ensure social justice.

Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement after meeting with Argentina’s Economy Minister Martin Guzmán in Rome:

Argentine president Alberto Fernandez and his delegation are in Paris preparing for a full agenda on Wednesday which includes a working breakfast with French business leaders, a private meeting with his peer Emmanuel Macron and lunch at the Elysee Palace, and finally a conference at the prestigious French Political Science School.

Argentina’s Economy Minister Martin Guzman met the head of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva for two-and-a-half hours on Tuesday to discuss the country’s economic emergency, the ministry said.

At least 10 passengers on a cruise ship that Japan quarantined tested positive for the new coronavirus, public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media reported on Wednesday, citing the health ministry.

Mechanical failures after a helicopter was transported from the Falkland Islands caused it to crash land, investigators have found.

The Royal Navy has shown off the capabilities of its Falkland Islands' guardian to the other Armed Forces tasked with protecting the South Atlantic islands.

United States president Donald Trump’s decision to relax restrictions on the U.S. military’s use of anti-personnel land mines was “completely unacceptable”, the European Union said on Tuesday in a rare formal criticism of Washington.