Stories for April 2020

Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 15:25 UTC
Mussels, an invasive species, have been found in South Shetland Islands Antarctic waters

Mussels are the first-ever invasive species to take up residence in Antarctica, as found by a new study published last month in Scientific Report. According to the study, scientists found a colony of mussels, most likely transported accidentally to the frozen continent from Patagonia via ship, some 75 miles north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 13:36 UTC
“Greg Mortimer” crew members and medical chief officer demand repatriation: “we also have a home country”

The last cruise of “Greg Mortimer” when it left Ushuaia on March 15th was an invitation to disaster, and now “we are asking for a humanitarian corridor to take us, as they did with passengers, to our home countries”, said Mauricio Usme, chief medical officer on board the Aurora Expeditions vessel.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:16 UTC
US oil price on Monday turned negative for the first time in history

The price of US oil has turned negative for the first time in history. That means oil producers are paying buyers to take the commodity off their hands over fears that storage capacity could run out in May.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:15 UTC
Major asset managers reject Argentina's proposal to overhaul US$ 66bn foreign debt

A group of major asset managers who are creditors to Argentina have rejected the government’s proposal aimed at overhauling US$66.2 billion of its foreign-law debt, saying it inflicted an unjust amount of financial pain on international bondholders.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:14 UTC
Trump to sign executive order temporarily suspending immigration to the US

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States. “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States”, Trump said in a tweet late on Monday.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:11 UTC
Falklands planning to lift building industry restrictions on Wednesday

The Falkland Islands Executive Council last Friday agreed in principle that construction activity on the Islands can resume this Wednesday, 22 April. However, Chief Executive Barry Rowland said the final decision would be subject to COVID-19 test swab results from the United Kingdom expected to be received this Tuesday 21 April.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:10 UTC
Falklands government and people wish the Queen a safe and healthy birthday; parade cancelled

The Falkland Islands government said that in light of the announcement by Her Majesty the Queen and following consultations between Governor Nigel Phillips CBE and Buckingham Palace, it has been decided to cancel the Queen's Birthday Parade on 21 April.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:05 UTC
WHO defends its actions and insists it sounded the alarm on COVID-19 right from the start

The World Health Organization, WHO, on Monday said that it sounded the alarm on COVID-19 right from the start and had hidden nothing from Washington about the deadly pandemic.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:00 UTC
Facebook removes events promoting protests against stay-at-home measures

Facebook Inc said on Monday that it has removed events in Nebraska, New Jersey and California promoting protests against stay-at-home measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the new coronavirus.
Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:00 UTC
UK and EU resume a week long round of Brexit trade talks; IMF concern, urges extension of deadline

British and European Union (EU) officials restarted on Monday a week-long round of Brexit trade talks after a break because of the coronavirus, which is making an end-of-year deal look even more unlikely. After a first-round in early March negotiations were suspended for six weeks as officials focused on the deadly virus sweeping Europe.