Stories for August 2018

Monday, August 6th 2018 - 07:33 UTC
Brazilian right wing candidate picks an Army general as his running mate

Far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro picked an army reserve general on Sunday to be his running mate for Brazil's October elections. Bolsonaro, who is the candidate of the Social Liberal Party, announced his choice of reserve Gen. Hamilton Mourao, who belongs to the right-wing Brazilian Labor Renewal Party.
Monday, August 6th 2018 - 07:11 UTC
Brexit deal chances are “60 to 40”; Liam Fox blames EC intransigence

Liam Fox says the chance of a no-deal Brexit is growing, blaming the “intransigence” of the European Commission. The international trade secretary and Brexiteer put the chance of failing to come to an agreement at “60-40”. He told the Sunday Times that Brussels' chief negotiator had dismissed the UK's Chequers proposals simply because “we have never done it before”.
Monday, August 6th 2018 - 07:01 UTC
Spanish sea produce canning sector exports Euros 406 million in five months; 11% squid

Exports of canned, semi-preserved and prepared fish and shellfish experienced an increase of 3.85% in volume and 7.41% in value during the first five months of this year compared to the same period of the previous year. Between January and May, Spain exported 86,732 tons valued at more than Euros 406 million, according to the canning association ANFACO-CECOPESCA.
Monday, August 6th 2018 - 06:45 UTC
East Australia suffering worst drought in living memory: massive cull of livestock

The worst drought in living memory is sweeping parts of eastern Australia, leaving farmers struggling to cope and asking questions about their future. Record-low rainfall in some regions and successive seasons of above-average temperatures have blighted vast tracts of Australia's grazing and crop land.
Sunday, August 5th 2018 - 11:35 UTC
Despite jail sentence, Lula nominated candidate for October's presidential election

Brazil's leftist Workers' Party nominated its charismatic founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for the upcoming presidential contest on Saturday despite him being imprisoned for corruption. In a message from Lula read to the party convention in Sao Paulo, he said, “Brazil needs to restore its democracy.” Although serving a 12-year sentence for corruption, Lula, 72, remains by far the frontrunner in opinion polls.
Sunday, August 5th 2018 - 08:05 UTC
Maduro escapes drone-attack during military ceremony; blames Colombia's Santos

Venezuelan officials say that President Nicolás Maduro has escaped an assassination attempt unharmed. Maduro was giving a live televised speech in the capital city of Caracas on Saturday when, a government spokesman said, explosive-carrying drones went off near the president.
Saturday, August 4th 2018 - 12:44 UTC
Jeremy Corbyn: Labour is not a threat to Jewish life in Britain

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said “people who dish out anti-Semitic poison need to understand: you do not do it in my name”. In an article for The Guardian he said anti-Semitism was a “real problem” that Labour was “working to overcome”. But he did not give in to demands to adopt all the examples of anti-Semitism cited by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
Saturday, August 4th 2018 - 12:35 UTC
Argentina's industrial output was down 8.1% in the twelve months to June

Argentina’s industrial output plunged 8.1% in June compared with the same month last year, government statistics agency Indec said, the sharpest monthly drop since the country was in the grips of an economic meltdown in 2002.
Saturday, August 4th 2018 - 12:25 UTC
Ex Finance minister Meirelles joins the Brazilian presidential race

Henrique Meirelles, a former finance minister in unpopular President Michel Temer's government, joined Brazil's presidential race on Thursday, promising market reforms to rebuild the battered economy.
Saturday, August 4th 2018 - 12:04 UTC
The possibility of a “no deal Brexit is uncomfortably high”, wars Carney

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Friday Britain faces an “uncomfortably high” risk of leaving the European Union with no deal, comments that drove sterling to an 11-day low against the dollar.