Politics

• Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:27 UTC

  Argentina's “Children and youth protection project” receives US$ 300 million from World Bank

  

  The World Bank Board of Directors approved a new US$ 300 million operation to support Argentina’s efforts to strengthen its social protection system and minimize the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable families.

• Thursday, March 26th 2020 - 08:25 UTC

  Pandemic: total lockdown in Colombia; Chile extends schools closure until May

  

  Countries across Latin America tightened measures on Wednesday to halt the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, with more lockdowns and school closures as well as increased aid to the region's poorest.

• 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 - 08:56 UTC

  Pandemics: Bolsonaro and governors clash over priorities, the economy and jobs or public health

  

  Brazil's largest city of Sao Paulo began fifteen days of lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus on Tuesday. This after Brazil's own president, Jair Bolsonaro, has faced fierce criticism for his blasé treatment to combat the threat, which he describes as a quote “little flu.”

• 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 - 08:24 UTC

  On request from Trump, South Korean medical equipment and expertise to fight coronavirus

  

  South Korea said it will send medical equipment to the United States to fight the coronavirus if it has any spare after an urgent request from US President Donald Trump in which he promised to help Korean firms gain US government approval.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 07:55 UTC

  Drug gangs impose a strict curfew in Rio do Janeiro's favelas to combat “the disease of the rich”

  

  The “baile funk” dance parties have been called off. Some open-air drug markets are closed for business. Gangs and militias have imposed strict curfews. Coronavirus is coming, and Rio de Janeiro's lawless favelas are gearing up for the onslaught.