Stories for May 12th 2020

Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 09:00 UTC
Argentina extends debt negotiations deadline to “increase participation” and “better alternatives”

Argentina will extend negotiations over a US$ 65bn debt restructuring proposal until May 22, the government said in the official gazette on Monday. The extension sets the stage for tense last-ditch talks as Argentina races to avoid default.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 08:54 UTC
Falklands' civilian population with no Covid-19 cases; normal return to schools and nurseries

Given the successful compliance of self-isolation and social distancing and other measures implemented by the Falkland Islands Government, FIG, the civilian population of the Islands remains with no positive cases of coronavirus, according to the Monday situation report.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 08:52 UTC
Paraguay fears its success in containing Covid-19 could be threatened by Brazil

Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez has said the spread of coronavirus in Brazil threatens his country's success in containing the virus. Mr Benítez said more than half of Paraguay's 563 cases were people who had entered from neighbouring Brazil.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 08:50 UTC
Bolsonaro declares gyms and salons as essential services

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday declared gyms and hair salons as essential services that can stay open through the new coronavirus outbreak, easing measures to control the disease despite new cases and deaths surging in the country.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 08:40 UTC
Colombia's national airline, Avianca, has filed for bankruptcy protection in a US court.

Avianca is the second-largest carrier in Latin America, but its passenger operations have been grounded since March because of coronavirus. It said the pandemic had cut more than 80% of its income, and it was struggling with high fixed costs.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 08:18 UTC
Beijing disappointed with Australia: suspends meat imports from four abattoirs

China has suspended meat imports from four Australian abattoirs, fuelling concerns that escalating tensions between the two nations are damaging Australia's most important trading relationship.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 08:15 UTC
Chinese official sacked in Wuhan for reporting confirmed new cases of Covid-19

An official has been sacked in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province after the city recently reported six new confirmed Covid-19 cases, local authorities said on Monday.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
President Trump cuts short press briefing after an exchange with CBS reporter

US President Donald Trump abruptly ended his coronavirus press briefing on Monday after getting into a testy exchange with an Asian-American reporter. CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang asked Trump why he continued to insist that the US was doing better than other countries when it came to testing for the virus.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 07:49 UTC
Trump opposes renegotiating US-China Phase 1 trade deal despite Beijing concerns

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he opposed renegotiating the US-China “Phase 1” trade deal after a Chinese state-run newspaper reported some government advisers in Beijing were urging fresh talks and possibly invalidating the agreement.
Tuesday, May 12th 2020 - 07:47 UTC
Charles Darwin HMS Beagle unearthed dock in Essex under Historic England protection

The remains of a rare 19th Century dock built for Charles Darwin's ship HMS Beagle has been recognized as a site of national importance. The submerged mud berth on the River Roach in Rochford, Essex, will now be protected against unauthorized change.