Stories for January 30th 2019

Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 20:55 UTC
Venezuela: Socialist International recognizes Guaidó and calls Maduro “illegitimate”

The Council of the Socialist International (SI) approved a communique on Tuesday where they recognize deputy Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan National Assembly as the only legitimate power of leading a process of democratic transition in Venezuela.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 10:05 UTC
Dam burst in Brazil: Police arrests five engineers responsible for environment impact licenses

Police in Brazil have arrested five people as part of an investigation into Friday's dam collapse in Brumadinho. At least 65 people died and 300 remain unaccounted for, when toxic sludge engulfed a company canteen and neighboring residential buildings.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 10:03 UTC
Venezuelan Supreme Court bans Guaidó from leaving the country and freezes his bank accounts

Venezuela's Supreme Court has banned opposition leader Juan Guaidó from leaving the country and frozen his bank accounts. The move comes amid an escalating power struggle, after Mr Guaidó declared himself interim president last week.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 10:01 UTC
Guaidó plans to name new boards of directors at PDVSA and Citgo

The President of Venezuela’s opposition-dominated National Assembly Juan Guaido will announce new boards of directors for state oil company PDVSA and its U.S. business, Citgo, according to opposition leader sources.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:59 UTC
Brazil's federal debt increased 8.9% last year and is estimated to rise 11% in 2019

Brazil’s federal debt rose to 3.88 trillion Reais ($1.03 trillion) in December, up 8.9% from 3.56 trillion Reais a year earlier, and is expected to rise further this year, the Brazilian Treasury said. The Treasury predicts public debt this year will swell to somewhere between 4.1 trillion and 4.3 trillion Reais, the upper end of which would represent an increase of almost 11%, it outlined in its annual financing plan.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:59 UTC
UN chief Guterres ready to facilitate dialogue and negotiations in Venezuela

Following a meeting with a delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has offered to facilitate discussion to help resolve the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:56 UTC
US farm lobbies want a post-Brexit UK food quality standard lowered

United States lobby groups for agriculture and pharmaceutical firms want UK standards changed to be closer to those of the US in a post-Brexit trade deal. The meat lobby wants the sale of growth hormone-fed beef, currently banned in the UK and EU, to be allowed in the UK.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:46 UTC
Russia and China criticize US sanctions on Venezuela: “they undermine confidence in the international financial system”

Russia and China strongly criticized U.S. sanctions placed on Venezuela, with the former pledging to support the beleaguered President Nicolas Maduro. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday the sanctions completely undermined confidence in an international financial system that is dominated by the U.S., Russian news agency Interfax reported.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:41 UTC
Parliament instructs PM May to renegotiate Brexit's Irish border backstop

British lawmakers on Tuesday instructed Prime Minister Theresa May to demand that Brussels replace the Irish border arrangement known as the “backstop”, in a last-ditch attempt to renegotiate an exit treaty that the European Union says it will not change.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:39 UTC
France rejects any EU/UK renegotiation deal and calls for credible proposals

France on Tuesday rejected any renegotiation of the EU-UK divorce deal and urged Britain to make credible proposals after British lawmakers passed a motion instructing their government to secure changes to a key element of the deal.