Latest

World

In Rio de Janeiro, trash collectors struggle to survive as city shuts down

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Deise Geraldine is one of scores of Rio de Janeiro trash collectors who usually make their living by scavenging bottles and cans left by restaurants and bars at the curb.

World

Italy frets over lockdown, eyes eventual staggered re-opening

ROME (Reuters) - Italian health officials warned on Tuesday it was too soon to consider lifting lockdown restrictions, saying a deceleration in new cases of coronavirus should not raise hopes that the crisis was near an end.

World

EU presses on with tighter 2030 climate target despite pandemic

(Reuters) - The EU executive kick-started its plan to set a tougher 2030 emissions target on Tuesday, a move that could help maintain the bloc's focus on climate change despite pressure to soften its green ambitions in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

World

Putin sending medical supplies to help U.S. fight coronavirus -IFX

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is sending the United States medical equipment to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

World

Tunisia extends lockdown by two weeks

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia will extend a lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus by two weeks to April 19, the presidency said in a statement on Tuesday.

World

Czech virus chief defends face masks order, says they protect others

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech government's coronavirus tsar on Tuesday defended its order for people to wear face masks outside the home, saying they were important to protect others.

World

Slovakia registers first coronavirus death

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Slovakia on Tuesday registered its first death linked to the coronavirus, according to data from the National Health Information Centre.

World

Panama's rise as transport hub paves way for coronavirus entry

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama has in recent years invested billions of dollars to establish itself as a top commercial, logistical and air transport hub in the Americas.

World

From bartering to begging for relief, struggling Americans confront April rent

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York hair stylist Vanessa Karim has not worked since March 21, when the state closed all salons to slow the spread of the coronavirus. She only has enough cash on hand to cover half of her $1,400 April rent.

World

28 U.S. tourists have coronavirus after Mexico spring break - city of Austin

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A group of 28 spring break tourists who returned to Texas from the Mexican beach resort of Cabo San Lucas have tested positive for coronavirus, the city of Austin said in a statement on Tuesday.

World

Decision time: quarantine spells dilemma for domestic workers in Latin America

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - When the Chilean government announced a total quarantine last week for the wealthy eastern areas of capital Santiago where cases of coronavirus were most prevalent, Maria De Leon, a 31-year-old nanny, was presented with an unenviable choice.

World

'It's just impossible': tracing contacts takes backseat as virus spreads

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. (Reuters) - Faced with more than 70 cases of the novel coronavirus and a deadly outbreak in an assisted living community in his town, Ed Briggs is overwhelmed.

World

U.S. might rethink Iran sanctions in light of coronavirus outbreak - Pompeo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held out the possibility on Tuesday that the United States may consider easing sanctions on Iran and other nations to help fight the coronavirus epidemic but gave no concrete sign it plans to do so.

Football

Maracana stadium transformed as work begins on Rio field hospital

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Lorries and labourers moved into the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday to start building a field hospital that will host patients carrying the coronavirus.

World

South Africa sends testing teams into townships to contain coronavirus

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The South African government is sending testing teams to the country's townships as it ramps up efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Tuesday.

World

Syrian air defences intercept hostile targets over Homs - SANA

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian air defences have intercepted "hostile targets" over the city of Homs, state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday.

World

Rate of France coronavirus deaths accelerates for third day

PARIS (Reuters) - French health authorities reported 499 new deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the total to 3,523, an increase of 17% in the past 24 hours.

Tennis

Olympic champion Puig finding new 'normal' with Games delay

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With the tennis calendar paused and the Tokyo Games postponed to 2021, Olympic champion Monica Puig finds herself having to navigate a longer runway to her title defence and the long hours of quarantine felt by many communities across the globe.

World

New York’s Empire State Building lights up in tribute to emergency workers

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City's landmark Empire State Building has launched a nightly light show, featuring red and white flashes symbolic of an ambulance beacon, to honour emergency workers and comfort those staying at home because of the coronavirus.

Cricket

ECB announces 61 million pounds aid package due to coronavirus

(Reuters) - The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced a 61 million pounds ($75.63 million) aid package on Tuesday to help the English game withstand the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.