Stories for April 28th 2017

Friday, April 28th 2017 - 17:28 UTC
General strike in Brazil to protest changes to labor laws and pensions system

Public transport largely came to a halt across much of Brazil on Friday as protesters blocked roads and scuffled with police in a general strike to protest proposed changes to labor laws and the pension system. It is the first general strike in over two decades.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 17:23 UTC
Brazil hit by record 13.7% unemployment in March, 14 million out of a job

Brazil's jobless rate rose to a record for the fifth straight month in March with more than 14 million workers unemployed, government data showed on Friday, illustrating the hardships caused by the country's deepest recession ever.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 11:09 UTC
Trump opts to renegotiate NAFTA agreement; talks to Peña Nieto and Justin Trudeau

President Trump told reporters Thursday he had been planning to terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement within days, but decided to try to renegotiate the agreement instead. The president held out the possibility of killing the trade deal later if the negotiations fail.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 11:01 UTC
Falklands: Argentine investors project to build a Howard Johnson hotel in Stanley

An Argentine businessman and partner of the US based Howard Johnson, with 37 hotels under that name in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, is attempting to refloat an old project to install a 40 rooms complex in the Falkland Islands, according to media reports in Buenos Aires.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 10:53 UTC
PM May had “constructive” talks with EC president Juncker and Brussels' chief Brexit negotiator Barnier

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has had “constructive” talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on the Brexit process, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister hosted Mr Juncker and Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier for a working dinner in Number 10 ahead of a summit on Saturday where the leaders of the 27 other EU countries will consider their approach to the talks on the UK’s withdrawal.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 10:21 UTC
Gibraltar could be Spanish in four years, “but Gibraltarians must be seduced”

Gibraltar could be Spanish “within four years”, Spain’s former foreign minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, said on Wednesday insisting that “the Hong Kongisation” of the Rock was possible in that timescale.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 09:50 UTC
Joint Statement from President Donald J. Trump and President Mauricio Macri

President Donald J. Trump hosted President Mauricio Macri of Argentina (Thursday 27 April) to discuss ways to deepen the close partnership between the United States and Argentina.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 09:36 UTC
“The future of the Falklands depends on the Islanders, and that is what is most important”

British ambassador in Argentina Mark Kent has said that conflict policies lead nowhere, Argentina and the UK have different positions on the Falkland Islands sovereignty, but it is up to the Islanders to decide on their future. Anyhow bilateral relations have significantly improved with great prospects for trade, investments and cooperation.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 09:23 UTC
Labour “unequivocally committed” to protecting British sovereignty of Gibraltar

Labour is “unequivocally committed” to protecting the British sovereignty of Gibraltar, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry said during a surprise visit to the Rock. Mrs Thornberry was shown around Gibraltar International Airport and the frontier by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, on the back of a long standing promise.
Friday, April 28th 2017 - 09:03 UTC
PM May blasts Merkel and Labour on Brexit talks, and calls for unity and 'strongest possible hand'

Germany's Angela Merkel comments about the UK's Brexit stance show the need for Britain to have the “strongest possible hand” in negotiations, said Prime Minister Theresa May. The PM told a rally in Leeds that 27 EU countries were “lining up to oppose” Britain while her opponents were “trying to disrupt” Brexit talks.