Latin America & Caribbean
Hard Numbers: Brits host Ukrainians, Turkmen succession, deadly COVID in HK, Puerto Rico in the black
Ukrainians wait to board a train to Poland as they flee Russia's invasion in Lviv.
REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
100,000: Over 100,000 Brits have signed up for a new government program to host Ukrainian refugees in their homes. The UK has been criticized for granting so few visas to Ukrainians thus far, but those without UK family ties will now be eligible.
73: The son of outgoing Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was “elected” to succeed his dad on Saturday. But Serdar Berdymukhamedov only got 73% of the vote, 24 percentage points less than what his eccentric father got five years ago in the gas-rich Central Asian nation.
25: Hong Kong’s daily COVID death rate has this month surpassed 25 per 100,000 people, the highest in the world. The big problem there is that more than half of elderly Hong Kongers don’t want to get vaccinated, in part because they don’t trust jabs from mainland China.
70 billion: The US territory of Puerto Rico formally exited bankruptcy on Tuesday, almost seven years after defaulting on over $70 billion in debt. But Puerto Ricans aren’t out of the woods yet — they need to get their books checked before being able to borrow money again.Mastercard Economic Institute's Outlook 2026 explores the forces redefining global business. Tariffs, technology, and transformation define an adaptive economy for the year ahead. Expect moderate growth amid easing inflation, evolving fiscal policies, and rapid AI adoption, driving productivity. Digital transformation for SMEs and shifts in trade and consumer behavior will shape strategies worldwide. Stay ahead with insights to help navigate complexity and seize emerging opportunities. Learn more here.
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