Politics

Thursday, April 16th 2020 - 10:54 UTC
Melinda Gates describes Trump's de-funding of WHO dangerous and nonsensical

Pulling funding from the World Health Organization (WHO) is a dangerous and nonsensical move when the world is facing the health crisis brought by the COVID-19 disease pandemic, Melinda Gates said on Wednesday.
Thursday, April 16th 2020 - 10:47 UTC
“Coronavirus diplomacy” awarded South Korea's ruling party a landslide victory

South Korea's ruling party won a landslide victory in Wednesday's general election, partial results showed after the coronavirus pandemic turned the political tide in President Moon Jae-in's favor.
Thursday, April 16th 2020 - 10:44 UTC
Tracking technology with Smartphone software questioned by US senator fearing privacy violation

Smartphone software makers Alphabet's Google and Apple will have to convince the public that any contact tracking technology to track who has been exposed to the new coronavirus will not lead to a violation of their privacy, Senator Richard Blumenthal said on Wednesday.
Thursday, April 16th 2020 - 10:42 UTC
Reopening professional sports leagues in US is possible but in empty stadiums

The top US health and infectious disease specialist says the key to reopening professional sports leagues in America is to have the athletes play games in front of empty stadiums. Anthony Fauci, who is helping to coordinate the US response to the global coronavirus pandemic, said reliable antibody testing and fast results are also crucial to the return of sports.
Thursday, April 16th 2020 - 08:30 UTC
Brazil's most wanted criminal has been arrested in Mozambique

One of Brazil's most wanted criminals has been arrested in Mozambique after spending more than two decades on the run, officials say. Gilberto Aparecido dos Santos, known as Fuminho, is accused of running drug trafficking operations for one of Brazil's most powerful gangs.
Thursday, April 16th 2020 - 08:20 UTC
Beijing's lockdown ahead of a possible resurgence of coronavirus infection

Beijing has virtually walled itself off to outsiders with drastic measures to protect China's seat of power against the threat of a second wave of coronavirus infections from other regions. After largely getting the outbreak under control, China has banned foreigners from entering the country as authorities fret over an increase in cases imported from abroad - though most have been Chinese citizens.
Thursday, April 16th 2020 - 07:43 UTC
Two McDonald's employees file US$ 500 million class action lawsuit for “systemic sexual harassment”

Two McDonald's employees in Florida have filed a US$500 million class-action lawsuit, accusing the fast-food giant of fostering “systemic sexual harassment”. Jamelia Fairley and Ashley Reddick are named on behalf of some 5,000 women from over 100 US McDonald's outlets.
Wednesday, April 15th 2020 - 13:51 UTC
Argentina is readying to announce terms of the US$ 83bn debt restructure

Argentina is expected to announce an offer to restructure US$ 83 billion in foreign-currency bonds any moment as it tries to avoid default, despite shutting down the economy to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Wednesday, April 15th 2020 - 13:00 UTC
“A bomb” hit Ecuadorean city of Guayaquil: “no space for the living or the dead”

Ecuador's economic capital Guayaquil is reeling from the most aggressive outbreak of COVID-19 in Latin America after the pandemic hit the city “like a bomb,” its mayor said. Cynthia Viteri has emerged from her own bout with the virus to battle the worst crisis the port city of nearly 3 million people has known in modern times.
Wednesday, April 15th 2020 - 10:55 UTC
Second humanitarian corridor for Greg Mortimer's passengers will depart this Wednesday

The Uruguayan government announced on Tuesday that it will evacuate the remaining passengers on the Antarctic cruise ship Greg Mortimer through a second humanitarian corridor. There will be about 15 passengers who have remained in the ship anchored in front of the port of Montevideo, where there are people with the COVID-19 disease.