Stories for 2017

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.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 07:18 UTC
Venezuela denies electoral manipulation; constituent assembly inauguration delayed

Venezuela's election chief has denied a report that voter turnout numbers were “manipulated” and inflated by at least 1 million for this week's controversial election to choose an assembly to rewrite the national constitution.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 07:01 UTC
Canny Temer survives vote in the Lower House: “a clear undisputable victory”

Brazilian lawmakers tossed out a corruption charge against scandal-plagued President Michel Temer on Wednesday, saving the conservative leader from becoming the country’s second leader in 12 months to be forced from office. Despite hugely embarrassing bribery allegations, Temer had been expected to survive.
Thursday, August 3rd 2017 - 06:50 UTC
Hammond and Macri agree to expand trade, investment and building closer links

Argentine president Mauricio Macri received on Wednesday Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, who had anticipated the purpose of the visit was to deepen UK-Argentine economic partnership and address political issues of common interest, such as the 2018 G20 summit and Argentina's aspiration to join OECD.
Wednesday, August 2nd 2017 - 20:33 UTC
Euro zone unemployment falls to its lowest since February 2009; inflation remains below 2%

The unemployment rate in the Euro zone has fallen to its lowest since February 2009, according to the latest official figures. The rate dropped to 9.1% last month, from a downwardly revised 9.2% in May. Separately, inflation remained unchanged in July at 1.3%, according to a preliminary estimate from Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office.
Wednesday, August 2nd 2017 - 08:36 UTC
Lord Hague supports Hammond for pushing for a Brexit transitional deal

Philip Hammond has been backed by former Tory leader Lord Hague amid ongoing Cabinet tensions about the approach to Brexit. The ex-foreign secretary said the Chancellor deserves credit for pushing for a transitional deal which preserves close ties to Brussels, giving time for a new trading relationship to be established and avoiding turning Brexit into a “disaster”.
Wednesday, August 2nd 2017 - 07:59 UTC
The Buenos Aires Herald, part of Argentina's history folds after more than 140 years

The Buenos Aires Herald, a long established English-language newspaper lauded for its coverage of Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship, will close after more than 140 years of publication, the newspaper said late on Monday.