Stories for October 2020

Saturday, October 17th 2020 - 08:48 UTC
Brazil considering temporarily zero tariffs on corn and soybean imports outside Mercosur

The Brazilian government is set to discuss a proposal that would temporarily eliminate tariffs on corn and soy imports from countries outside the Mercosur trade bloc, as recently happened with rice, a staple of the Brazilian diet.
Saturday, October 17th 2020 - 08:36 UTC
Brazilian Senator, close ally of Bolsonaro forced to resign over hidden cash

Brazilian lawmaker Chico Rodrigues was forced to resign on Thursday from the Senate after police found cash hidden in his underwear during a search of his home.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:58 UTC
Argentina wants energy firms to invest US$ 5 billion to boost gas production

Argentina wants energy firms to invest some US$ 5 billion to boost hydrocarbon production and generate jobs in the country's prized Vaca Muerta shale play, as well as to bring in much-needed foreign currency.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:36 UTC
Falklands examining quarantine regulations making them more rigorous

The Falkland Islands quarantine regulations are being examined by Members of Legislative Assembly with a view to tightening up rules and interpretation of rules, according to an interview with this week's Penguin News.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:31 UTC
UN agency advises Latin American to stimulate economies and help contain poverty and unemployment

Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean must continue to ratchet up stimulus to beat back the devastating economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the UN agency ECLAC said in a report issued this week.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
US presidential campaign moves to dueling prime time at town halls; record funding for the Biden campaign

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will hold dueling prime-time town halls instead of a second presidential debate on Thursday, as Americans continued to swamp polling places in states allowing early in-person voting.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:20 UTC
Switzerland bans the export of five toxic chemicals, including paraquat

Starting from next year, Switzerland will not allow the export of five hazardous plant protection products already banned in the European country. The Swiss government approved the amendment to the law on chemical substances this week as part of measures to reduce risks associated with toxic chemicals. It added that the move is intended to help protect health and the environment in importing countries, particularly in the developing world.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:18 UTC
Holland reports first infection with West Nile virus originated in the Netherlands

Dutch health authorities said on Thursday they had found the first infection with the West Nile virus to have originated from the Netherlands last week. The patient is a man who had not been abroad recently, the National Institute for Public Health said.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:10 UTC
Covid-19: Overloaded hospitals in Netherlands to transfer patients to Germany

Hospitals in the Netherlands on Thursday said they would ask their German counterparts to take patients after the number of those hospitalized with the coronavirus doubled in the past week, to 1,526.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:04 UTC
Exposure of coronavirus on flights is very low, US Defense Department report

The risk of exposure to the coronavirus on flights is very low, a US Department of Defense study released on Thursday found, a positive sign for the airline industry as it tries to rebound from the pandemic's crushing effect on travel.