Stories for August 2018

Tuesday, August 7th 2018 - 10:43 UTC
Chile legally bans the widespread commercial use of plastic bags

Chile has become the first South American country to legally ban the widespread commercial use of plastic bags. The new legislation approved by Congress and enacted by President Sebastián Piñera, gives small shops two years to adapt to a total ban.
Tuesday, August 7th 2018 - 07:59 UTC
Falklands' flag to fly all year round in Portsmouth

Portsmouth could soon fly the Falklands flag all year round as a lasting tribute to all those who died to liberate the British territory 36 years ago. Plans are afoot to install a new flagpole outside the Falklands memorial in Old Portsmouth to allow the islands’ symbol to fly above the entrance to the city’s harbor.
Tuesday, August 7th 2018 - 07:48 UTC
US re-imposes first wave of sanctions on Iran; EU, China, Russia, India resist

At midday on Tuesday, the first wave of U.S. sanctions suspended under the Iran nuclear deal will snap back into place, as the Trump administration tries to ramp up the economic pressure on Iran. But without partners in Europe, let alone buy-in from countries like Russia, China, and India, it's unclear how strong that pressure will be.
Tuesday, August 7th 2018 - 07:38 UTC
Lula's party confirms plan B in case the ex president is barred from running in October

Brazil's Workers' Party announced on Monday that former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad will become its presidential candidate if, as expected, jailed ex-president Lula da Silva is barred from running in the October election.
Tuesday, August 7th 2018 - 07:31 UTC
Brazilian judge blocks border to prevent Venezuelans flooding in

A Brazilian federal court has ordered a block on Venezuelans crossing the border from their economically imploding country, but there was no indication on Monday of the suspension yet taking effect.
Tuesday, August 7th 2018 - 07:23 UTC
Ivan Duque takes office as Colombian president; staunch ally of the Trump administration

Ivan Duque, who will be sworn in as Colombia’s president on Tuesday, is poised to become an unusually strong ally for the Trump administration after he made a project of cultivating ties with the White House and spotlighting shared views on drug control, counterterrorism and the unfolding political and economic crisis in next-door Venezuela.
Tuesday, August 7th 2018 - 07:01 UTC
Construction executives confirm bribe payments in exchange for contracts under Kirchner governments

Argentine prosecutors questioned a construction executive related to President Mauricio Macri on Monday as part of a sprawling investigation into bribe payments made to the former government. Angelo Calcaterra, the former head of construction company Iecsa and Macri’s cousin, told prosecutors he was told by officials in former President Cristina Fernandez’ administration to pay cash in exchange for public works contracts.
Monday, August 6th 2018 - 21:43 UTC
Measles cases increasing in Brazil despite the vaccination campaign

The Brazil Health Ministry website reported there have been 1,053 measles cases and 5 deaths, as of August 2, 2018. This negative news is a significant increase from the July 20th Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) report, which said Brazil had confirmed 677 measles cases during 2018.
Monday, August 6th 2018 - 20:57 UTC
Venezuelan Prosecutor assures that the perpetrators of the “assassination attempt” against Nicolás Maduro were identified

Last Saturday, the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, described as “attempted assassination” the events that interrupted an official ceremony in Caracas in commemoration of the anniversary of the armed forces.
Monday, August 6th 2018 - 07:45 UTC
UK embassy in Uruguay co-organizes major agriculture academic competition

The British Embassy in Montevideo, Cuti, ARU and ANDE are co-organizing the third edition of Hackathon AGRO which will take place at Expo Prado 2018 on 14-16 September. Hackathon AGRO is an open competition for Uruguayan teams made up of researchers, entrepreneurs and experts in Information Technologies, Agro and Business.