Stories for February 1st 2019

Friday, February 1st 2019 - 14:09 UTC
Religious Freedom: Human Rights Organizations calls for shutdown of the Korea’s Christian Council

On January 27, 30,000 people gathered in at Seul’s Gwanghwamun Square in a rally coordinated by the Global Citizens' Human Rights Coalition. People from civil society organizations and religious groups came together calling the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) to be held accountable for their ”unconstitutional actions and ultimately shut down,” local media reported.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 11:15 UTC
Italian economy in recession, and likely to continue during the year

Italy's economy tipped into recession at the end of last year, according to latest figures. In the final three months of 2018, the economy shrank by 0.2%, following a 0.1% decline in the third quarter, the Istat statistics office said. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the contraction was likely to continue into 2019.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 11:10 UTC
Brazil's fiscal deficit in December, a challenge for Bolsonaro and the new Congress

The Brazilian government posted a fiscal deficit of 41.13 billion reais (US$ 11.27 billion) in December, the third widest monthly deficit on record, the central bank said on Thursday. While it was in line with forecasts and amplified by seasonal factors, the shortfall highlights the challenge of exerting tighter control over the country's finances which new President Jair Bolsonaro has said is one of his top priorities.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 11:08 UTC
Argentina and EU reach an agreement over exports of biodiesel

Argentina and the European Union (EU) reached an agreement to end a dispute over exports of biodiesel, the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The deal establishes price and volume limits to be announced next month, the ministry said in a statement.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 11:06 UTC
Wines of Argentina marketing campaign for 2019 features a love story

Wines of Argentina (WOFA) has launched a disruptive new marketing campaign for 2019 called “Vino Argentino: A Blind Tasting Story”, which features a love story between two people from opposite worlds and targets young women in the US.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 10:43 UTC
New Brazilian Congress opens with great challenges, but Bolsonaro has been made vulnerable by Flavio's finances

The real business of governing Brazil starts this Friday for president Jair Messias Bolsonaro with the opening of the new congress through which his ambitious reform program must pass. The former army captain is currently absent from Brasilia will have to follow events from his hospital bed in São Paulo, where he is recovering from a third major operation following his stabbing at a campaign rally last year that almost cost him his life.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 10:38 UTC
Dam burst in Brazil confirms 110 deaths and 238 missing: “deadliest-ever mine disaster”

Residents devastated by a mining dam burst in Brazil that may have killed more than 300 people reacted on Thursday with indifference and in many cases anger to miner Vale SA’s pledges to pay victims’ families and improve safety.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 10:34 UTC
France, Germany and UK agree on new channel to trade with Iran and avert US sanctions

France, Germany and Britain have opened a new channel for non-dollar trade with Iran to avert U.S. sanctions, although diplomats say it is unlikely to allow for the big transactions that Tehran says it needs to keep a nuclear deal afloat. Washington’s major European allies opposed last year’s decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon the 2015 deal, under which international sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for Tehran accepting curbs on its nuclear program.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 10:25 UTC
EU Parliament recognizes Guaidó as de facto head of state: 90 days for Venezuela to hold new elections

The European Parliament recognized Venezuela’s self-declared interim president Juan Guaido as de facto head of state on Thursday, heightening international pressure on the OPEC member’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro. EU governments, divided over whether to recognize Guaido, also agreed to lead an international crisis group with South American nations to seek new elections, setting a 90-day time limit, and threatening further economic sanctions.
Friday, February 1st 2019 - 10:20 UTC
Guaidó invites Russia and China to change sides: “your interests will be best served”

Global jostling intensified on Thursday between countries that want Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in power and those trying to force him to resign, as opposition leader Juan Guaidó made overtures to his rival’s allies Russia and China.