Stories for May 2020

Tuesday, May 5th 2020 - 06:55 UTC
China official media calls “Evil Pompeo” a lying clown

China's state broadcaster CCTV on Monday attacked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's “insane and evasive remarks” over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, further fuelling Sino-US tensions.
Tuesday, May 5th 2020 - 06:46 UTC
Dramatic boom of flour sales by lockdown baking

A mill is producing a month's worth of flour every week to keep up with demand during the coronavirus pandemic. Supermarket shelves have been stripped of flour by shoppers either panic-buying or taking to lockdown baking.
Tuesday, May 5th 2020 - 06:44 UTC
A quarter of UK employees furloughed, and companies claiming £8 billion to pay wages

Around a quarter of employees in Britain have been furloughed and companies have claimed £8 billion from the government to sustain their wage bills during the coronavirus lockdown, tax authorities said on Monday.
Tuesday, May 5th 2020 - 06:41 UTC
Australia and New Zealand considering a “travel bubble” between the two countries

New Zealand and Australia are discussing the potential creation of a “travel bubble” between the two countries, sources said on Monday, even as Australia reported its highest number of coronavirus cases in two weeks.
Tuesday, May 5th 2020 - 06:37 UTC
Chile ordered new quarantine measures for three districts of Santiago

Chile ordered strict new quarantine measures on three districts in the capital Santiago after a sudden spike in coronavirus cases on Sunday. The health ministry reported a surge of 1,228 new infections, bringing the total to nearly 20,000 nationwide and dealing a blow to hopes it was over the worst of the crisis.
Tuesday, May 5th 2020 - 06:18 UTC
Israel research lab isolates coronavirus antibody: “a significant breakthrough”

Israel has isolated a key coronavirus antibody at its main biological research laboratory, the Israeli defense minister said on Monday, calling the step a “significant breakthrough” toward a possible treatment for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monday, May 4th 2020 - 08:13 UTC
Argentina arrested on Sunday a Portuguese trawler poaching in its EEZ

The Argentine Coast Guard arrested on Sunday a Portuguese trawler poaching in the country's EEZ, and will in the next few hours be escorted to the port of Bahía Blanca where it will face charges.
Monday, May 4th 2020 - 08:07 UTC
Argentina cannot afford to pay creditors more

By Martin Guzman (*) – The following piece was published in the Sunday editions of the Financial Times, ahead of a critical countdown in May for Argentina's debts and its creditors:
Monday, May 4th 2020 - 07:58 UTC
Bolsonaro's anti confinement rally in Brasilia attracts thousands

Brazil's President Jail Bolsonaro railed against the country's lockdown on Sunday in a speech to thousands of anti-confinement demonstrators as the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections passed 100,000, with more than 7,000 deaths.
Monday, May 4th 2020 - 07:57 UTC
Argentina willing to continue talks with bondholders; ensuring sustainability of the debt is the target

Argentina is willing to keep working toward a deal to restructure its debt if an offer that expires on Friday is rejected, the economy minister said. Economy Minister Martin Guzman told Argentine daily Clarin in an interview published on Sunday that he is seeing a “growing understanding” with bondholders ahead of a May 8 deadline for the offer that creditor groups already criticized.