The world in brief, March 26th 2

America’s Senate voted unanimously to approve a stimulus package【经济刺激方案】worth 1,200 for Americans earning less than $75,000 and government-backed loans for struggling businesses. The package had helped to reverse heavy market losses in recent days. The House of Representatives will vote on it on Friday.

Prince Charles tested positive for covid-19 and is self-isolating in Scotland. The heir to the British throne, who is 71 and whose case is said to be mild[据说其症状不严重], last saw the queen (aged 93) two weeks ago. The announcement raised questions about why people with more serious symptoms are being denied tests by the National Health Service. Scotland’s chief medical officer said the prince was tested “for clinical reasons”.

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank called on creditor countries to suspend debt repayments from the world’s poorest countries, if requested. In their joint statement the two multilateral lenders said that the step was necessary to free up money【减轻资金压力】 to fight the spread of covid-19.

The American government concluded that Robert Levinson, a retired FBI agent who disappeared in Iran more than a decade ago, has died in Iranian custody. The timing and nature of his death are unknown. American investigators believe that the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s pre-eminent paramilitary force【准军事部队】, was behind Mr Levinson’s disappearance, which would make him the longest-held hostage in American history.

Suicide-bombers led an attack that killed 25 people at a Sikh religious complex in Afghanistan. Islamic State, a jihadist【圣战士】 network formed in Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility【声称负责】. Most of Afghanistan’s Sikhs had emigrated by the time the Taliban came to power in the 1990s; fewer than 300 families remain.

India announced $22.6bn of extra spending to help its poorest citizens during the covid-19 outbreak. The money will be spent on cash transfers【现金发放】, as well as food staples【粮食产品】 such as rice and wheat. Worries about the country’s food supply prompted panic buying when Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, announced a 21-day lockdown earlier this week.

SoftBank accused Moody’s of being “biased” after the ratings agency downgraded its debt. This week the Japanese tech investor said it would sell off【廉价出售】 $41bn of assets to pay down its debts【还清债务】. Moody’s attributed the downgrade to SoftBank’s decision to sell during a volatile market, risking a fire sale of its assets.