Stories for August 21st 2018

Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 09:09 UTC
Argentines begin campaigning for a Secular State

Argentines gathered in Buenos Aires last Saturday to oppose the influence of religion on Argentine politics and encourage people to quit the Catholic Church, in the wake of the recent Senate vote not to legalize some abortions.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:59 UTC
Prague 1968: “Socialism with a human face” squashed by 200.000 Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops

More than 200,000 Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia overnight from August 20 to 21, 1968, to halt a blossoming political and cultural liberalization, bringing an abrupt end to the Prague Spring and tightening the Kremlin's grip.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:55 UTC
Francis: “We showed no care for the little ones,” Francis wrote. “We abandoned them.”

Pope Francis vowed Monday that “no effort must be spared” to root out priestly sex abuse and cover-up from the Catholic Church, but gave no indication that he would take action to sanction complicit bishops or end the Vatican culture of secrecy that has allowed the crisis to fester.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:40 UTC
Macri to report Venezuelan government to the International Criminal Court

Argentine President Mauricio Macri plans to report Venezuela’s government to the International Criminal Court at The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity, according to an interview broadcast on CNN’s Spanish service on Sunday night. Macri said he would seek to refer populist President Nicolas Maduro’s government “in the coming weeks”, and that he had the backing of the presidents of Colombia, Chile and Paraguay.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:40 UTC
Snowfall across central Uruguay on Sunday

A rare snowfall was seen across parts of Uruguay on Sunday while graupel resulted in an icy coating across parts of eastern Argentina.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:35 UTC
Falklands plans to adopt the UK Port Marine Safety Code in the maritime sector

The Falkland Islands government has reported it is working with partners to strengthen the existing safety management system at FIPASS, and is looking at moving towards the adoption of the UK Port Marine Safety Code to improve the standards of safety in the maritime sector. Additionally FIG has engaged with a marine consultancy to commission works to safely vent the remaining sealed ballast tanks at FIPASS.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:32 UTC
Brazilian Real loses ground to the dollar following the latest opinion poll

The Brazilian real led losses among Latin American currencies on Monday after an opinion poll showed the market's preferred candidate in October's presidential elections lagging far behind his rivals. The Real was down 0.76% and 15.98% in the eight months of the year.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:25 UTC
Latam announces 2Q results; currencies' turbulence has hit shares, down 25%

With this year's sell-off in emerging markets assets hasn't just dented investor returns and confidence, but also weighed heavily on global companies with exposure to developing economy currencies. One that is LATAM Airlines, by far South America's biggest carrier and among the world's largest by network connections.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:10 UTC
Brazilian election increasingly polarized: Lula's support increases and so does far right Bolsonaro

Jailed former president Lula da Silva has increased his support by five percentage points and would win Brazil's October presidential election if he was allowed to run, a poll by CNT/MDA showed on Monday. The survey, which was last taken in May, found that almost half of the leftist leader's supporters would transfer their votes to his running mate Fernando Haddad if Lula is disqualified from Brazil's most uncertain race in decades.
Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:05 UTC
Venezuelan refugees restarted pouring into northern Brazil

Brazil's government has not ruled out closing its border with Venezuela at Pacaraima, in Roraima state, but sees obstacles to doing so because of international treaties it has signed, Political Affairs Minister Carlos Marun said on Monday.