Stories for May 2017

Monday, May 29th 2017 - 08:21 UTC
Manchester, security and patriotism take center stage of UK election

British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn attempted to head off potential Conservative attacks on his patriotism as he promised to be “strong against terrorism and strong against the causes of terrorism” after the Manchester attack. Corbyn said Monday’s suicide bombing cannot be ignored as General Election campaigning resumes but called for “quality” debate “without impugning anyone’s patriotism”.
Saturday, May 27th 2017 - 14:04 UTC
A quarter of UK power on Friday was solar, helped by sunshine and high temperatures

A record amount of solar power was generated on Friday as Britain basked in sunshine and temperatures of up to 28C, the National Grid has said. A total 8.7 gigawatts (GW) had been generated at lunchtime, representing 24.3% of total generation across the UK, beating the previous record of 8.48GW set on 10 May.
Saturday, May 27th 2017 - 13:53 UTC
Armed police patrolling UK trains and rail network

Armed police officers are patrolling on board trains in the United Kingdom for the first time. British Transport Police (BTP) announced the measure in a bid to “disrupt and deter criminal activity” on the rail network after the UK terror threat level rose to critical in the wake of the Manchester attack.
Saturday, May 27th 2017 - 08:32 UTC
Moody's lowers Brazil's credit outlook; Meirelles confident the reform agenda will be approved

Brazil's economy is clearly growing again after a severe recession and will be shielded from a political crisis by widespread support for the government's reform agenda, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said, despite the fact Moody's on Friday announced it was lowering the country's credit outlook.
Friday, May 26th 2017 - 10:26 UTC
Cristina Fernandez prepared to run for Congress to put a break to Macri's policies

Argentine ex president Cristina Fernandez said on Thursday she is open to the possibility of running for a seat in Congress in the October midterm elections, since she considers essential to put a stop to the policies implemented by her successor, president Mauricio Macri.
Friday, May 26th 2017 - 10:20 UTC
Argentina honors Spanish fisherman who spied on the Task Force during the Falklands war

The Argentine embassy in Madrid honored a Spanish fisherman from Galicia, Fernando Otero, as a Malvinas Veteran for services accomplished during the 1982 Falklands war, spying on the British Task Force as she approached the South Atlantic. The event took place on Argentina's National Day, May 25th.
Friday, May 26th 2017 - 08:02 UTC
UK economy losing momentum as Brexit impact begins to be felt

Britain's economy slowed more sharply than first thought in early 2017 as consumers felt the hit from the rise in inflation that followed the Brexit vote and exporters struggled to benefit from the weak pound. Thursday's downbeat official data - which contrasts with signs of acceleration in many other economies - comes two weeks before Britons vote in a national election.
Friday, May 26th 2017 - 07:49 UTC
Falklands/UK airbridge has reduced flight time with re-route via Cape Verde

The United Kingdom MoD (Ministry of Defense) announced on Thursday that plans were in place to trial the Falkland Islands Airbridge flight via Sal, Cape Verde, on a temporary basis which would result in a shorter overall flight time and improved passenger experience.
Friday, May 26th 2017 - 07:34 UTC
Odebrecht offices in Buenos Aires raided as part of an investigation into bribes

Argentine federal agents searched the offices of the Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht in Buenos Aires on Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged bribes in the granting of construction contracts for a water treatment plant.
Friday, May 26th 2017 - 07:16 UTC
Labour cuts Conservatives lead to five points, according to post-Manchester poll

Britain's opposition Labour Party has cut the lead of Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives to five points less than a fortnight before a national election, according to the first poll published since the suicide bombing in Manchester killed 22 people.