Stories for 2020

Saturday, June 27th 2020 - 07:11 UTC
Spanish virologists find trace of coronavirus in Barcelona March 2019 waste water sample

Spanish virologists have found traces of the novel coronavirus in a sample of Barcelona wastewater collected in March 2019, nine months before the COVID-19 disease was identified in China, the University of Barcelona said on Friday.
Saturday, June 27th 2020 - 06:45 UTC
Brazil recorded longest lightning bolt, 700km and Argentina a lighting megaflash of 16,7 seconds

The UN's weather agency announced this week the longest lightning bolt on record -- a single flash in Brazil on October 31, 2018 that cut the sky across more than 700 kilometres.
Saturday, June 27th 2020 - 06:37 UTC
“Che” Guevara's birthplace in Rosario, Argentina, is up for sale

The birthplace of the 20th Century leftist revolutionary icon Ernesto “Che” Guevara has been put up for sale in the Argentine city of Rosario. Current owner Francisco Farruggia said he had bought the 240 sq m apartment in a neo-classical style building in the city centre in 2002.
Friday, June 26th 2020 - 10:52 UTC
Huge 15 sq km locust swarm threatens Mercosur agriculture

Argentina and Brazil are monitoring the movement of a 15-square-kilometer locust swarm in Argentina’s northeast, though authorities and specialists said so far it had not caused significant damage to crops in the South American countries.
Friday, June 26th 2020 - 10:20 UTC
Argentina admits “biggest differences” in debt negotiations remain with two main creditor groups

Argentina is still working with its creditors to reach a debt restructuring deal after talks stalled, though there is still a distance to cover in economic and legal terms, Economy Minister Martin Guzman said on Thursday.
Friday, June 26th 2020 - 10:18 UTC
Falklands' leisure tourist arrivals increase 7% and expenditure 12% in 2019/20

Leisure tourist arrival in the Falkland Islands reached 1,650, during the 2019-2020 season, up almost 7% on the previous year reports Steph Middleton, Executive Director, Falkland Islands Tourist Board.
Friday, June 26th 2020 - 10:15 UTC
Chile totaled 259,604 Covid-19 positive cases

In the last 24 hours, Chile registered 4,648 new coronavirus cases, totaling 259,064 since the pandemic was officially recognized in the country, 17 March, according to the daily report by the Public Health minister Enrique Paris.
Friday, June 26th 2020 - 10:08 UTC
Bournemouth authorities 'appalled' after thousands flocked to the beach

An English seaside resort declared a major incident Thursday after thousands of people flocked to the beach on the hottest day of the year so far, despite the threat of coronavirus.
Friday, June 26th 2020 - 10:06 UTC
Brazil confirms budget primary deficit at 11% of GDP; economy set to shrink 7%

Brazil’s economic growth and fiscal outlook this year are shaping up to be worse than official government forecasts, making a return to austerity and reforms next year all the more pressing, Treasury Secretary Mansueto Almeida said
Friday, June 26th 2020 - 10:04 UTC
World Bank staff reject Brazil's nomination to executive director over his racial comments

The association representing staff at the World Bank asked that Brazil’s nomination of Abraham Weintraub to be executive director be reviewed over his past racial comments and other concerns, according to a letter circulated in the bank on Wednesday.