Stories for April 2017

Thursday, April 20th 2017 - 03:00 UTC
How effectively has the strong UK economy delivered? May and Corbyn debate

How strong is the UK economy? The issue was debated between Theresa May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons shortly before the Wednesday vote confirming the June 8 election.
Thursday, April 20th 2017 - 02:21 UTC
British snap election campaign takes off; May wants to increase her current majority of 17

Campaigning is under way after the House of Commons backed Theresa May's call for a general election on 8 June. MPs voted by 522 votes to 13 - with Labour and Lib Dem helping secure the two-thirds majority needed to bring forward the election from 2020.
Thursday, April 20th 2017 - 02:13 UTC
King of Spain will witness firsthand the election: he will be in London June6/8

The King of Spain’s state visit to Britain, which will coincide with the snap June 8 general election, will go ahead, Downing Street has said. King Felipe VI will visit Britain along with Queen Letizia of Spain from June 6 to 8, as the campaign reaches its climax.
Thursday, April 20th 2017 - 01:57 UTC
Punta Arenas plans to seat a major Antarctica scientific research hub

Chile will build the International Antarctic Center in the southern city of Punta Arenas, meant to become the entering point to the white continent for the world. The Governor of the Magellan region and the Chilean Antarctic, Jorge Flies stated this week that there were 35 projects developing in his jurisdiction, in three important areas.
Thursday, April 20th 2017 - 00:51 UTC
Two students killed in massive marches in Venezuela; “the anti-Christs have been defeated” blasts Maduro

Two Venezuelan students died on Wednesday after being shot during protests against unpopular populist President Nicolas Maduro, increasing turmoil in the volatile nation amid a crippling economic crisis. Opposition supporters protested in Caracas and other cities in what they called “the mother of all marches,” denouncing Maduro for eroding democracy and plunging the oil-rich economy into chaos.
Wednesday, April 19th 2017 - 21:12 UTC
World Bank praise for Latam countries pursuing counter-cyclical fiscal policies

In a positive development, today more than ever before, Latin American and Caribbean countries are pursuing counter-cyclical fiscal policies - spending more in bad times and saving in good times, according to a new World Bank semiannual report for the region.
Wednesday, April 19th 2017 - 14:38 UTC
Brazilian economy gives signs of recovery, but many challenges remain

Economic activity in Brazil grew in February at the fastest pace since January 2010, a central bank indicator showed this week, in the strongest sign yet that Latin America's largest economy is emerging from a two-year recession. Bumper harvests are expected to have lifted agricultural production in the first quarter of the year, while industrial output improved on a pickup in car exports.
Wednesday, April 19th 2017 - 14:27 UTC
Police unions storm Congress in Brasilia to protest pension reform bill

Brazilian President Michel Temer on Tuesday made new concessions to ease passage of an unpopular pension reform bill, leading police unions to try and invade Congress in the latest angry demonstration from a labor group.
Wednesday, April 19th 2017 - 06:03 UTC
“Mother of all marches” in Venezuela; Maduro reacts by pledging 500.000 civilian militias

As Venezuela’s center-right opposition prepares to stage “the mother of all marches” this Wednesday to protest President Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to consolidate power, the besieged leader has called for a countermarch and declared plans to expand the country’s civilian militias.
Wednesday, April 19th 2017 - 05:58 UTC
Special by election turned into a challenge to Trump ends in a June runoff

The special election for United States Georgia’s 6th Congressional District will go to a runoff in June, CNN projects, as no candidate secured 50% or more of the vote. Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel will face off, following a race that had 18 candidates.