Lawmakers urge IMF, World Bank to cancel poor countries' debt

Over 300 lawmakers from around the world on Wednesday urged the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to cancel the debt of the poorest countries in response to coronavirus pandemic and to boost funding to avert a global economic meltdown.

The appeal came in a letter delivered to the heads of the World Bank and the IMF, as well as US President Donald Trump and other world leaders amid growing concern that the pandemic will devastate developing countries and emerging economies. They asked the institutions to respond in 15 days.