Global Pandemic Half of Peru enters lockdown as Covid-19 cases soar 28-01-2021 16:51 Peruvian government imposes strict quarantine on half the country’s population, after a spike in Covid-19 deaths and saturation of the healthcare system.
Global pandemic Pandemic inflames gender violence against women 23-11-2020 15:58 No country has been spared the coronavirus epidemic, nor the scourge of domestic violence, which has surged during lockdowns as the day marking such violence approaches on Wednesday.
BRAZIL UNDER BOLSONARO Murders surge in Brazil despite pandemic 20-10-2020 08:52 Number of murders and other violent deaths in Brazil increased 7.1% in first half of the year, despite lockdown measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus pandemic Covid-19 hits Mar del Plata, as pandemic surges in Argentina 19-10-2020 07:00 Mar del Plata has become an epicentre in a coronavirus surge through Argentina's interior that has given the country the fifth-highest confirmed case total in the world.
FROM WHERE I STAND Discovering good in the ill wind 17-10-2020 09:15 I think many people must have had a journey of discovery thanks to the quarantine. I have had many glorious awakenings to fascinating people, places and subjects while looking up the most prosaic things. by Robert Cox
Coronavirus pandemic Fernández puts 14-day restrictions on movement in 18 provinces 10-10-2020 08:28 Government to tighten measures restricting the movement of people in 18 provinces for two weeks, as Covid-19 infections and fatalities continue to break new records.
Death of Facundo Astudillo Castro Autopsy: Facundo Astudillo Castro's death was 'violent,' caused by 'drowning' 02-10-2020 14:55 Forensic experts conclude late 22-year-old died of “asphyxia by submersion,” adding it was not possible to determine if the young man’s death was a homicide due to “advanced skeletonisation of corpse.” No evidence of third-party involvement, nor that body was moved after death. by James Grainger
GLOBAL PANDEMIC Trump has 'mild' Covid symptoms, diagnosis rocks race for White House 02-10-2020 09:13 US president experiencing "mild symptoms" of Covid-19 after testing positive, along with First Lady Melania Trump. News upends election campaign, a month before Republican leader faces Joe Biden at the polls.
Global pandemic Latin America's cities bustle like Covid is gone – but it’s not 20-09-2020 21:57 In Latin America’s big cities, as in other places around the globe, it almost feels like the virus never happened.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Government extends coronavirus lockdown until October 11 19-09-2020 08:33 Government warns citizens not to relax as infections reach 613,000. Buenos Aires City to relax some measures as surge in cases draws attention to inland provinces.
Former president Macri 'breaks silence' to launch fierce attack on Fernández 13-09-2020 23:52 Former president pens column for La Nación, accusing Peronist leader of leading a “systematic and permanent attack” on Constitution.
Coronavirus pandemic CABA to expand Covid-19 testing to those exposed but asymptomatic 08-09-2020 15:41 Testing will be increased in the City of Buenos Aires to include people who have come in contact with positive cases, even if they are asymptomatic.
Facundo Astudillo Castro Protesters rally in capital to demand justice for Facundo Castro 04-09-2020 02:50 Protest held one day after forensic experts confirm remains of a body found in a rural area of Buenos Aires Province belong to Castro, a 22-year-old who had been missing for more than 100 days.
FACUNDO ASTUDILLO CASTRO Judge confirms found remains belong to Facundo Astudillo Castro 03-09-2020 04:11 Bahía Blanca Federal Judge María Gabriela Marrón confirms remains of a skeleton found earlier this month belong to missing 22-year-old, who was last seen alive on April 30.
Facundo Astudillo Castro Reports: Autopsy results show found remains belong to Facundo Castro 31-08-2020 19:25 Multiple local news outlets report that remains found in Villarino, near Bahía Blanca, are from body of missing 22-year-old, who was last seen alive on April 30.
FACUNDO ASTUDILLO CASTRO Berni: It’s ‘probable’ discovered remains belong to Facundo Castro 29-08-2020 09:59 "I think that at this point there are no more doubts,” says provincial security minister, as autopsy on unidentified remains gets underway.
LA GRIETA Argentina’s burnout syndrome 29-08-2020 08:28 The lack of social contact, confinement, and a current state of alert given protracted panic is causing anxiety and cognitively wearing down our population, making the future recovery even more uncertain. by Agustino Fontevecchia
Coronavirus pandemic Lockdown extended until September 20 amid record infection rates 28-08-2020 22:24 Some restrictions eased: outdoor social gatherings of up to 10 people approved, while restaurants in capital can now serve customers at tables on streets. 11,717 new cases and 222 deaths on Friday.
'17A' MARCH Anti-government protesters defy virus lockdown to rally 17-08-2020 21:59 Large crowds of demonstrators take to the streets, in cities across the country, on to protest lockdown extension and government's proposed judicial reform bill.
Facundo Astudillo Castro Fernández promises Facundo Castro's mother there will be 'no cover-up' 17-08-2020 16:29 President Alberto Fernández calls mother of missing 22-year-old Facundo Castro and vows there will be no cover-up, should the unidentified body found over the weekend prove to be her missing son's.
Coronavirus pandemic New poll points to lockdown fatigue in Buenos Aires City 15-08-2020 08:33 Eight out of 10 people admit to quarantine fatigue while also expressing fear of Covid-19 contagion, a University of Belgrano opinion poll has revealed.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Fernández extends quarantine with appeal for ‘social responsibility’ 14-08-2020 22:00 President confirms lockdown restrictions will remain in place until August 30; Stricter measures on cards for five provincial cities.
Coronavirus pandemic Nerves fray in Argentina, as some flout pandemic lockdown 13-08-2020 15:02 People are on edge in Argentina, where the number of new coronavirus cases is surging despite nearly five months of strict limits on movement and activities in Buenos Aires and the surrounding area.
Global pandemic Youngsters in Latin America vent pandemic fury after lost 2020 12-08-2020 23:30 For four young adults across Latin America, 2020 was meant to be a year of freedom and opportunity. Instead, the coronavirus pandemic brought confinement and frustration.
Facundo Astudillo Castro Search for Facundo Castro: Mother says she has no hope of finding him alive 06-08-2020 17:13 Cristina Castro says she has "no hope" her son will be found alive, as investigators uncover items in search for missing 22-year-old.
Global pandemic Colombia's long virus lockdown fuels anxiety and depression 05-08-2020 23:49 In the Colombian capital of Bogotá, the mayor’s office reports that suicide attempts are up 21% since the start of quarantine, with psychologists also reporting a rise in new patients.
Coronavirus pandemic Government bans social gatherings in Argentina for next 15 days 02-08-2020 22:42 Health Access Secretary Carla Vizzotti confirms ban on social gatherings in all parts of the country until August 16, amid surge of Covid-19 infections and fatalities.
WEEKLY ROUND-UP What we learned this week: July 25 to August 1 01-08-2020 09:18 The most important stories that caught our eye in the last seven days.
EDITORIAL Judicial reform and jumping the queue 01-08-2020 09:07 The judicial reform bill announced this week suffers all the problems of Caesar’s wife – it must not only be honourable but seen to be so, a challenge which neither its context nor origin nor timing favour.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC President extends Covid-19 lockdown ‘on same terms’ despite surge in cases 01-08-2020 08:47 ‘Cuarentena sin cambios’ – Lockdown in Buenos Aires metropolitan area extended until August 16, after week of record numbers of cases and fatalities.
COPING WITH QUARANTINE Pandemic poses challenges for porteños seeking therapy 24-07-2020 07:00 Quarantine measures have loosened in Buenos Aires enough to allow patients to visit psychologists in their offices starting, a welcome change for porteños who have struggled to find the privacy to engage in remote therapy sessions.
80 days missing Search for Facundo Castro: New witnesses, mobile phone signal and DNA tests 21-07-2020 00:13 Search for missing 22-year-old, who was last seen on April 30 walking along Route 3 between Pedro Luro and Bahía Blanca when he was detained by Buenos Aires provincial police officers in Mayor Buratovich, advances. by Leonardo Nieva
FOOTBALL & THE PANDEMIC CONMEBOL forces Argentina to step up plans for return of football 18-07-2020 10:12 While many South American leagues have already retaken the field or are preparing to restart leagues, in Argentina even the return to training remains pending. That, however, hasn’t stopped CONMEBOL. by Dan Edwards
DONDE ESTA FACUNDO CASTRO? Search continues for missing 22-year-old, UN calls for ‘exhaustive’ probe 18-07-2020 10:03 Facundo Astudillo Castro was last seen on April 30 after being stopped by police in Buenos Aires Province for breaching Covid-19 lockdown.
CORONANOMICS Deeper, harder, slower: Analysts forecast worst crisis since 2001 18-07-2020 09:37 Argentina’s GDP likely to slump by as much as 15 percent this year, experts warn, with economic activity only returning to pre-quarantine levels in December – if there is no increase in coronavirus cases. by Mirta Fernandez
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC When activities restart during next phase of quarantine in Buenos Aires City 18-07-2020 08:57 President Alberto Fernández announces loosening of lockdown restrictions in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area and phased re-opening of activities, despite surge in confirmed cases and deaths from Covid-19.
POLITICS & THE PANDEMIC Coalitions under stress 18-07-2020 08:37 Political rivals are accusing each other of being “haters” – but of course, one person's hater is another person's hero. The pressure, however, is not just external. by Martín Gambarotta
capital controls Banks block accounts of those suspected of trying to circumvent dollar quota 17-07-2020 00:11 At least three of country's biggest banks have started to block dollar purchases via online platforms for clients suspected of using loopholes to purchase greenbacks beyond the US$200 limit.
Global pandemic Colombia: Illegal groups using violence to enforce lockdowns 16-07-2020 23:27 Illegal armed militias are imposing strict Covid-19 quarantines in parts of Colombia where the state has a weak presence, threatening those who don’t comply, Human Rights Watch has warned.
Coronavirus pandemic Buquebus' floating lab tests passengers to protect both Uruguay and Argentina 15-07-2020 14:21 Buquebus has implemented a new testing scheme for every passenger seeking to board boats back and forth from Argentina to Uruguay.
QUICK TRIP TO ASUNCIÓN From Paraguay, Macri says Peronist government should be ‘given time’ 14-07-2020 01:15 Former president Mauricio Macri uses private jet owned by tobacco company to visit Asunción for talks with ex-Paraguay president Horacio Cartes and current leader Mario Abdo Benítez.
THE WEEK What we learned this week: July 4 to July 11 11-07-2020 08:39 Stories that caught our eye over the past seven days in Argentina.
EDITORIAL Apocalypse now 11-07-2020 08:27 Quarantine saves thousands of lives but lockdown spells meltdown – both these truths are irrefutable and yet completely in conflict despite the efforts to present this as a false dilemma.
#9J: Día de la Independencia Anti-government protesters rally against quarantine on 9 de Julio 10-07-2020 02:18 Opposition supporters descended on the Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires on Thursday, staging a protest in defence of freedom and against the coronavirus lockdown. Event marred by outbreak of violence, as demonstrators attack TV van from pro-government news channel C5N.
Coping with quarantine Keep happy: Porteños try to make the most of quarantine 08-07-2020 14:57 Experts say quarantine measures have increased anxiety, uncertainty and feelings of extreme weariness. Some, however, have found a positive side to the pandemic.
GLOBAL PANDEMIC Uruguay rides out Covid threat without imposing a lockdown 04-07-2020 09:30 "Freedom with responsibility" has been the name of the game in Argentina’s small neighbour – the country has less than 1,000 registered cases and less than 30 deaths.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Anxiety and anguish in Buenos Aires as lockdown returns 04-07-2020 08:57 The Buenos Aires metropolitan area returned to a strict quarantine this week and many citizens are growing increasingly uncomfortable.
OPINION Giorgio was right 04-07-2020 08:51 Quarantine has been renewed, presented as a lifestyle by the government. by Pola Oloixarac
EDITORIAL Is isolation the best expression of independence? 04-07-2020 08:32 The pandemic is a curious ally of ultra-nationalism, feeding the notion that Covid-19 will destroy globalisation and the private sector in a world dictating a self-sufficiency of which very few countries can even dream.
POLITICS & THE PANDEMIC Metropolitan area blues 04-07-2020 07:29 The display of bipartisan civility, even with disagreements behind the scenes between Buenos Aires City and Province, is now routine. Yet the volatility has not gone away. by Martín Gambarotta