Stories for October 2020

Wednesday, October 14th 2020 - 08:57 UTC
Climate change emergencies and consequences forecasted to double by 2030, UN report

In the wake of heat waves, global warming, forest fires, storms, droughts, and a rising number of hurricanes, the UN weather agency is warning that the number of people who need international humanitarian help could rise 50% by 2030 compared to the 108 million who needed it worldwide in 2018.
Wednesday, October 14th 2020 - 08:51 UTC
EU/UK post-Brexit talks in “critical stage”: fisheries, disputes and fair competition stumbling blocks

The European Union demanded a “substantive” movement on Tuesday from Britain on fisheries, dispute settlement, and guarantees of fair competition in their talks on a post-Brexit trade deal, with Germany saying they were at a “critical stage”.
Wednesday, October 14th 2020 - 08:43 UTC
Despite the Catholic Church but fearful of Covid-19, Mexicans venerate death saint, “Santa Muerte”

Their arms raised towards the sky, worshippers of Mexico's “saint” of death pray before a giant cloaked skeleton asking for protection from the coronavirus and its devastating economic fallout. The Grim Reaper-like figure, whose devotees include drug cartel members as well as ordinary Mexicans, has been rejected by the Roman Catholic Church as blasphemous.
Wednesday, October 14th 2020 - 08:31 UTC
Pioneer ozone Mexican scientist and Nobel Prize dies

Mario Molina, the winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1995 and the only Mexican scientist to be honored with a Nobel, died last week in his native Mexico City. He was 77 years old.
Tuesday, October 13th 2020 - 09:02 UTC
Argentina: massive protests with display of national flags against government policies

Thousands of Argentines flying the national colors on Monday took to the streets across the country's main cities to protest against the government of President Alberto Fernandez and his policies, which after over 200 days of quarantine/isolation have been unable to contain the pandemic, left the economy in shatters and threaten democratic institutions.
Tuesday, October 13th 2020 - 09:01 UTC
Bolsonaro more popular than ever despite Brazil's questionable Covid-19 record

President Jair Bolsonaro has never been more popular in Brazil, despite his country's woeful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bolsonaro, who tested positive for the virus on July 7, has dismissed it as a “little flu”. Brazil passed five million Covid-19 cases on Tuesday and recorded its 150.000th death on Saturday.
Tuesday, October 13th 2020 - 09:01 UTC
Oxfam claims IMF's loans during the pandemic have worsen poverty and inequality

The vast majority of International Monetary Fund loans extended during the Covid-19 pandemic have suggested or demanded spending cuts that would worsen poverty and inequality, charity group Oxfam says.
Tuesday, October 13th 2020 - 08:54 UTC
Coronavirus cases and deaths keep growing despite some 200 days of quarantine in Argentina

Argentina surpassed 900,000 cases of coronavirus on Monday, with strong growth of infections in large populated centers in the interior of the country after months of the virus' being concentrated in Buenos Aires City and its suburbs in the neighboring province of Buenos Aires.
Tuesday, October 13th 2020 - 08:44 UTC
Colombia ex president Uribe released from house arrest while probe on witness tampering continues

A Colombian judge on Saturday ordered an end to house arrest for former president Alvaro Uribe, who is under investigation for alleged witness tampering and fraud.
Tuesday, October 13th 2020 - 08:28 UTC
Columbus Day in Colombia: Thousands of indigenous people march demanding an end to violence

Thousands of indigenous people demonstrated in southwestern Colombia on Monday demanding an end to violence, on the day commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. Dressed in green and red and carrying traditional sticks, the demonstrators converged on the city of Cali where they hope to meet President Ivan Duque.