Stories for July 20th 2020

Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:59 UTC
EU's “Frugal Five” blocking of recovery plan, anticipates difficulties to finalize accord with Mercosur

The emergence of the so-called “Frugal Five” led by Austria and Netherlands, has blocked so far the European Union recovery plan, with a massive injection of funds, and forebodes hard times to finally reach the implementation of an EU trade agreement with Mercosur.
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:45 UTC
Bolsonaro insists that the virus lockdown measures “kill” and have “suffocated” the economy

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that lockdown measures used to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus “kill” and have “suffocated” the country's economy.
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:45 UTC
Chile presents new plan “Step by Step” to relax the lockdown in twelve regions; no mention to the mining area

Chilean government officials presented a plan on Sunday to gradually relax lockdown restrictions after the coronavirus infection rate improved in some regions of the country. The plan, called “Step by Step,” includes five stages that range from total quarantine to advanced opening and will be applied according to epidemiological criteria, the capacity of the healthcare system and the ability to trace cases, officials said.
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:44 UTC
World consensus to protect seafarers as “key workers” and help repatriation of 200.000 stranded at sea

The International Labour Organization has expressed support for new international measures to protect the rights of seafarers, stranded at sea because of the COVID-19 crisis .
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Mexico seems unable to control the spread of coronavirus cases and death toll

Half the Covid-19 patients who go to the hospital in Mexico's border state of Baja California die, an alarming rate that experts attribute to people waiting too long to seek admission because they fear the poor conditions of hospitals.
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Virus moving south: Brazilian state of Santa Catarina reimposes strict confinement measures

The southern state of Santa Catarina, which borders with the Argentine province of Misiones decreed on Saturday strict confinement measures following a record death toll from the coronavirus pandemic.
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Wind power in Brazil represents 9% of the energy matrix

Wind energy is advancing in Brazil and now represents 9% of the energy matrix the state of Ceará, northeast, ended 2018 with 2,050.5 MW of installed wind power capacity, in 80 wind farms.
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Rio Gallegos in complete lockdown, all activities suspended until August 2nd

Santa Cruz province in the extreme south of Argentina imposed strict circulation and reunion restrictions plus a suspension of all activities in Rio Gallegos following an outbreak of coronavirus in the provincial capital, according to local media reports.
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:29 UTC
Brazilian oil industry showing resilience to coronavirus pandemic despite fall in investment

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com – Before the outbreak of COVID-19 and the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, an oil boom of monumental proportions was underway in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy. Economists and industry analysts as far back as 2018 were speculating that it would be the largest in Latin America’s history. There were even signs that Brazil’s burgeoning oil production could challenge OPEC’s wanning supremacy.
Monday, July 20th 2020 - 09:29 UTC
Record migrant crossing of the English Channel on Sunday

Five boats carrying 65 migrants have been intercepted while attempting to cross the English Channel. The Home Office said 58 males and seven females were picked up between 07:30 and 22:30 BST on Saturday.