Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Amid the global scramble for treatments that might shorten or stop COVID-19, one idea

goes back a century using the blood of people who have recovered from it. We take a look

at the trials that are underway around the world.

And two fabulously wealthy twins, family infighting, allegations of secret recordings in one

of the world's swankiest hotels. It would all be mere whispers if the drama between

Britain's most reclusive octogenarians weren't playing out in court this week.

But first, in the Philippines, communist insurgents have been engaged in a conflict with the

government for more than 50 years. But in late March they temporarily put down their arms.

After UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierez called for a global ceasefire in light of the COVID-19

It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of all lives.

To our party's I say, pull back from hostilities, put aside mistrust and animosity,

silence the guns, stop the activity and the air strikes.

The proposed UN ceasefire resolution could offer some hope to regions and countries ravaged by

seemingly perpetual war places like Yemen or Sudan or Colombia. Richard Cogget is a senior editor at

the economist. However, despite the early optimism, the possibility of a global ceasefire is looking

ever less likely due to scabbling between the superpowers at the United Nations.

There were 12 countries around the world in which armed groups

set their faith. Listen to Gutierez and we're going to call a temporary ceasefire. These included

countries with very old and intractable conflicts like Colombia and the Philippines and Sudan.

And some governments he did for call to some 16 countries took notice.

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