Stories for 2020

Wednesday, February 26th 2020 - 09:22 UTC
“Doomsday vault” in Norway adds seeds from India, Mali, Peru and Cherokee Indians

The sealed vault in the Arctic built to preserve seeds for rice, wheat and other food staples contains one million varieties with the addition on Tuesday of specimens grown by Cherokee Indians and the estate of Britain's Prince Charles.
Wednesday, February 26th 2020 - 09:01 UTC
Iran's deputy health minister confirmed coronavirus infection, one of 95 cases

Iran's deputy health minister confirmed on Tuesday that he has been infected with the new coronavirus, amid a major outbreak in the Islamic republic that have fuelled fears of a contagion in the region. Iraj Harirchi coughed occasionally and appeared to be sweating during a press conference on Monday with government spokesman Ali Rabiei.
Tuesday, February 25th 2020 - 07:35 UTC
Chile's main rock festival turned into major clashes and arson between protesters and police

Thousands of protesters armed with stones, sticks and Molotov cocktails clashed with police on Sunday as one of Latin America's biggest music festival opened, in the latest spurt of a four-month-old wave of grassroots anger over economic inequality and other woes.
Tuesday, February 25th 2020 - 07:31 UTC
Argentine ambassador in US meets Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Argentine ambassador in Washington Jorge Argüello held a meeting on Monday with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, with the purpose of strengthening bilateral relations and which was described as “highly productive”.
Tuesday, February 25th 2020 - 07:30 UTC
South Georgia is evidence of whales recovery, a century after they were heavily exploited

A team led by the British Antarctic Survey has just returned from the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, as the last of three expeditions to investigate the recovery of whales a century after they were heavily exploited. After 30 years of protection, large numbers of whales appear to be returning to the region.
Tuesday, February 25th 2020 - 07:29 UTC
Covid-19 “peaked” in China but countries should prepare for “a potential pandemic”, warns WHO

The World Health Organization on Monday said the new coronavirus epidemic had “peaked” in China but warned that a surge in cases elsewhere was “deeply concerning” and all countries should prepare for a “potential pandemic”.
Tuesday, February 25th 2020 - 07:25 UTC
Colombia offensive against drug traffickers clearing national parks to plant coca

Colombia's Defense Minister said on Monday the military will step up an offensive against drug trafficking gangs responsible for clearing thousands of hectares of protected national parks for coca plantations.
Tuesday, February 25th 2020 - 06:42 UTC
China fast-tracks ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals

China's top legislature said it will immediately ban the trade and consumption of wild animals, in a fast-track decision it says will allow the country to win the battle against the coronavirus outbreak.
Tuesday, February 25th 2020 - 06:40 UTC
Goldman Sachs facing charges in Malaysia for misleading investors on a US$ 6,5bn bond sale

Three units of Goldman Sachs pleaded not guilty to charges of misleading investors regarding US$6.5 billion in bond sales that the U.S. investment bank helped raise for state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Bernama state news agency reported on Monday.
Tuesday, February 25th 2020 - 06:38 UTC
Trump receives a hero's welcome in Gujarat, India, Prime Minister Modi's home state

Emerging in a stadium to the appropriate strains of the Village People's “Macho Man” as 100,000 people cheered on, US President Donald Trump looked like he was at a campaign rally in America's Midwest.