Stories for April 30th 2020

Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 09:54 UTC
Argentina is not abandoning Mercosur, but “we are in no haste to sign any accord”

Foreign minister Felipe Sola said Argentina is “not abandoning Mercosur, and did not leave any chair at the table”. Furthermore, this Thursday a round of ministerial talks will be taking place, requested by Paraguay, to keep analyzing the legal and institutional framework that some members pretend to speed a list of negotiations with other countries.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 08:40 UTC
Controversy in Argentina over the release of convicted felons to avoid COVID-19 in the overcrowded jail system

Argentina's Minister of Women, Gender and Diversity, Elizabeth Gómez Alcorta reiterated on Wednesday her complete rejection to the release of prisoners, accused or convicted of sexual crimes and gender violence, and asked the Justice to intervene to avoid “psychic and physical re-victimization of assaulted people.”
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 08:39 UTC
Argentina refineries running at minimum capacity because of lack of demand

A Buenos Aires crude oil refinery operated by Argentine state-controlled energy firm YPF is running with a minimal level of workers due to a drop in consumption and a lack of storage space amid a crash in global oil prices during the coronavirus pandemic, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 08:32 UTC
Full Fact charity demands Internet and media do more to tackle the spread of misinformation during COVID-19

Internet and media companies should do more to tackle the spread of misinformation in Britain, independent fact-checking charity Full Fact said in a report on Thursday highlighting falsehoods that have spread during the coronavirus outbreak this year.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 08:30 UTC
Chinese factory activity slows down as demand remains sluggish

Chinese factory activity grew at a slower pace in April as demand remained sluggish while the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to official data released on Thursday.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 08:26 UTC
Britain now has second highest official COVID-19 death toll in Europe

Britain now has Europe's second-highest official COVID-19 death toll with more than 26,000, according to figures published on Wednesday that raised questions about Prime Minister Boris Johnson's response to the outbreak.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 08:21 UTC
Paraguay one of the countries to first bounce back after post coronavirus

Mercosur member Paraguay has a high likelihood of bouncing back best once the novel coronavirus is contained, Rebeca Grynspan, head of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), told Radio Nacional del Paraguay on Thursday.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 08:18 UTC
Boris Johnson's fiancée Carrie gave birth to a boy; Queen sends a private message of good wishes

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's fiancée, Carrie Symonds, gave birth to a baby boy at a London hospital on Wednesday, slightly earlier than had been expected. Symonds, 32, had said previously that their baby was due in the early summer. Johnson, 55, whose country is facing its worst health crisis since the 1918 influenza outbreak, will take a short period of paternity leave later in the year.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
F1 teams congratulate WW2 veteran on his 100th birthday; Captain Moore raised more than 29 million pounds for NHS

Formula One teams and drivers have sent 100th birthday congratulations to Captain Tom Moore, the World War Two veteran whose own laps have raised more than 29 million pounds for Britain's National Health Service.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:58 UTC
Brazilian Supreme Court blocks Bolsonaro's attempt to name a family friend as top cop of the country

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday withdrew the name of a family friend he had picked to run the federal police after a Supreme Court justice blocked an appointment that opponents said would allow him inappropriate influence over law enforcement.