Stories for August 2017

Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 23:14 UTC
Brazilian economy struggling to climb out of deep recession

Brazil revealed mixed economic reports: record trade surplus, slight drop in unemployment and a stable industrial output. The July trade surplus was US$6.298, according to government data. Exports totaled US$18.769 billion and imports US$12.471 billion. This follows a surplus of US$7.195 billion in June.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 21:45 UTC
Brazil's Judge Moro claims there is lack of interest from the political establishment to fight corruption

Brazilian federal judge Sergio Moro, the man behind Brazil's largest ever corruption investigation, said there is still lack of interest from the country's political establishment to fight corruption, despite the political and economic crisis the practice sent the country into.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 21:34 UTC
Private investors decide to return Brazilian airport concession: business half of what was projected

Shareholders of a company set up to run Brazil's Viracopos airport have decided to return the concession to the government to seek other bidders in a new auction, they said, citing unexpectedly low passenger traffic.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 21:20 UTC
A century ago the first aircraft lands on the deck of a moving ship

The 100th anniversary of the first time an aircraft touched down on the deck of a moving ship is to be marked. Squadron Commander Edwin Dunning landed a Sopwith Pup biplane on HMS Furious in Scapa Flow, Orkney, on 2 August, 1917.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 15:38 UTC
Wall Street breaks the 22.000 mark for the first time

Asian markets paused for breath Thursday after Wall Street smashed through 22,000 for the first time, with regional traders focused on fresh clues on the health of the US economy. Strong Apple earnings propelled the Dow above the barrier to mark its sixth straight record close — but the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed marginally lower.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 08:31 UTC
Prince Philip, 96, bows out of public life after more than 22.000 presentations

Prince Philip, the 96-year-old husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, bowed out of public life on Wednesday with his final solo appearance at an official event, ending a royal career marked by occasional gaffes that landed him in hot water.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 08:02 UTC
Post-Brexit triggers whisky industry controversy in Scotland

With whisky boosting the UK economy by about £5 billion a year, Scottish Secretary David Mundell said ministers are keen to open up new markets around the world for the iconic drink. He spoke out ahead of a meeting on the island of Islay, in the Hebrides, which is home to several distilleries.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 07:53 UTC
Beijing support for Maduro: “the election was generally held smoothly”

Venezuela's close ally China said it believed voting in the country's Constituent Assembly election was “generally held smoothly”, brushing off widespread condemnation from the United States, Europe and others and evidence of voting irregularities.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 07:45 UTC
Venezuela military publicly express continued loyalty for president Maduro

Venezuela's military and cabinet expressed their continued support for President Nicolas Maduro, a day after the United States announced sanctions against the president. The sanctions were in retaliation for defying the White House by refusing to cancel elections for a National Constituent Assembly (ANC) to rewrite the Constitution.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 07:32 UTC
Russia accuses US of imposing a “full scale trade war”; Trump claims Congress is infringing his powers

United States president Donald Trump grudgingly signed into law new sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, a move Moscow said amounted to a full-scale trade war and an end to hopes for better ties with the Trump administration. Congress overwhelmingly approved the legislation last week, passing a measure that conflict with the Republican president's desire to improve relations with Moscow.