Stories for 2017

Wednesday, May 17th 2017 - 09:50 UTC
Amnesty International blasts Brazilian police systematic killings and impunity

Amnesty International lambasted “impunity” for Brazilian police who kill suspects during operations after a regional rights court ruled against Brazil in a spate of slayings in the 1990s. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled last week that Brazil must reopen investigations into the killings of 26 people in a Rio de Janeiro favela two decades ago and should provide compensation.
Wednesday, May 17th 2017 - 09:36 UTC
Lloyds Bank returns to private sector; at height of financial crisis government held 43% of shares

The British government has confirmed its remaining shares in Lloyds Banking Group have been sold, eight years after pumping in £20bn to save it. Lloyds Bank said the government will see a return of £21.2bn on its investment.
Wednesday, May 17th 2017 - 09:10 UTC
UK top union leader anticipates major loss for Labour; Corbyn releases plans to nationalize energy and water industries

One of Jeremy Corbyn's key allies, Unite boss Len McCluskey, has said he cannot see Labour winning the election. A Labor victory on 8 June would be “extraordinary” given the state of the party and criticism of it in the media. He suggested winning 200 seats - nearly 30 fewer than in 2015 - would be a “successful” result for Mr. Corbyn.
Tuesday, May 16th 2017 - 10:46 UTC
Argentina joins Beijing's OBOR initiative to promote trade and peace; Macri begins official visit to China

Argentina is a great producer of food commodities and is capable of feeding 400 million people, president Mauricio Macri said addressing in Beijing the One Belt One Road, OBOR, international cooperation summit, the Chinese initiative to promote peace and trade, which convened 29 world leaders from all continents.
Tuesday, May 16th 2017 - 10:34 UTC
China convenes 29 world leaders to launch its Silk Road plan to forge peace and free trade

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged US$124 billion for his ambitious new Silk Road plan to forge a path of peace, inclusiveness and free trade, and called for the abandonment of old models based on rivalry and diplomatic power games.
Tuesday, May 16th 2017 - 10:04 UTC
Brazil states RAF Hercules flights from or to Falklands are “humanitarian motivated”

The Brazilian government discards any “irregularities” in allowing British military aircraft, flying to or from the Falkland Islands, landing in its airports since the authorizations are humanitarian motivated, revealed a source from the Brazilian government to the Argentine news agency, Telam.
Tuesday, May 16th 2017 - 08:17 UTC
Argentina to issue US$ 20bn in sovereign bonds as part of 2017 financial program

Argentina has authorized the sale of US$20 billion in sovereign bonds to be issued under U.S. and British law, according to a decree published in the government gazette on Monday. The bond issuance, to take place under opportune market conditions, is part of the government's 2017 financial program.
Tuesday, May 16th 2017 - 08:13 UTC
Temer admits not having the votes to pass the pension reform bill: investors edgy

Brazilian President Michel Temer acknowledged on Monday that he may not have the votes at present to pass his pension reform bill in the lower house of Congress, and the key measure for fiscal savings might not face a floor vote until late May.
Tuesday, May 16th 2017 - 08:05 UTC
Majority of US citizens want an “independent investigation” into Trump-Russia links, shows Reuters/Ipsos poll

A majority of US citizens including a growing number of Republicans, want to see an “independent investigation” sort out any connections between Russia and President Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Monday.
Tuesday, May 16th 2017 - 07:52 UTC
Generational shift in France: Macron names a Conservative, 46, prime minister

In his first major decision, newly inaugurated French President Emmanuel Macron has named conservative lawmaker Edouard Philippe as prime minister. Philippe has been the mayor of Le Havre, a port city in the Normandy region of northern France, since 2010 and became a member of parliament for the region two years later.