IF iDir.com

Argentina, in default since last month, is tantalizingly close to pulling off a $65 billion debt restructuring deal with creditors but still faces a complex set of hurdles to avoid falling into what one bondholder called debtor "zombie land." The South American country's government is reworking a proposal to holders of its foreign debt as the two sides have inched closer to an agreement to revamp the debt. Argentina defaulted for a ninth time in May.

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 02:06:07 -0400

A study of Dutch blood donors has found that around 5.5% of them have developed antibodies against the new coronavirus, blood donation firm Sanquin said on Wednesday. The study, conducted among 7,000 donors between May 10 and 20, gives an indication of what percentage of the Dutch population may have already had the disease. A similar study in April showed antibodies in 3% of Dutch blood donors.

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 01:54:27 -0400

Learning Australian bush survival skills is becoming popular as city folk turn to nature with the easing of the coronavirus lockdown, organisers of a course outside Sydney said. The Bushcraft course teaches basic survival skills like foraging for food and water, and also offers insight into traditional indigenous cultures. The course filled up soon after the lockdown began to be eased late last month, and there is a lot of demand, the organisers said.

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 00:51:39 -0400

As Thai businesses modify their work practices after coming out of lockdown, a beauty clinic in Bangkok has devised a mini face mask for clients receiving up close and personal cosmetic treatments during the era of the coronavirus. The idea of the mask, which uses a narrower protective strip to expose more of the face, is so that doctors can conduct procedures while limiting contact with the nose and mouth."At first, I thought it was weird but it is actually really great because it's specifically designed to keep us safe during facial treatments," said Kannika Sae-Ngow, a customer at the Waleerat Clinic who was receiving a laser treatment on Tuesday. Staff are also using a plastic shield during treatments and some administrative operations have gone online."It has reduced the amount of time customers have to spend here to roughly less than an hour," said clinic founder Waleerat Thaweebanchongsin.Thailand is now in its third phrase of relaxing restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, which includes allowing beauty clinics to resume business.

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 00:28:50 -0400