Stories for February 19th 2019

Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 10:10 UTC
Seven MPs quit Labour criticizing the party's Brexit policy and anti-Semitism

Seven British Labour MPs have quit their party and set up as a group of independents, saying politics in Britain is “broken” and criticising Labour policy on Brexit and its failure to tackle anti-Semitism among its membership.
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:46 UTC
Macri on a state visit to India condemns terrorism and signs ten agreements

India and Argentina inked ten agreements including in defense, agriculture, space, pharmaceuticals, Antarctic cooperation, agriculture, IT and nuclear cooperation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Argentine President Mauricio Macri, accompanied by a high-level official delegation and around 100 top industry representatives of Argentine companies held bilateral talks on Monday.
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:42 UTC
IBM to launch research center on Artificial Intelligence in Sao Paulo

IBM is set to launch a research center in the Brazilian city of São Paulo focused on development of solutions around artificial intelligence. The AI center will be the first Latin American institution of IBM's AI Horizons Network. It will be jointly run by the company and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) to pursue “a disruptive research program”, with the potential to “promote paradigm shifts in AI.”
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:29 UTC
Independent inspection of the Royal Falkland Islands Police

The Royal Falkland Islands Police reported on Monday that two representatives from the UK Red Snapper Group, Dave Roberts and Neil Hunter, have arrived in the Islands commissioned by the local government to carry out an independent inspection of the force.
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:23 UTC
Trump calls on Venezuelan military to support opposition leader Juan Guaido

President Donald Trump said on Monday that “a new day is coming in Latin America,” as he sought to rally support among the largest Venezuelan community in the U.S. for opposition leader Juan Guaidó. Speaking at Florida International University in Miami before large American and Venezuelan flags, Trump said the U.S. stands behind Guaido, whom the U.S. recognizes as the country's rightful president, and condemns President Nicolas Maduro's government and its socialist policies.
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:21 UTC
Hammond visit to China called off amid reports of Beijing anger with UK defense actions

A visit to China by Chancellor Phillip Hammond has been called off amid reports a speech by the UK's defense secretary angered Beijing. There were plans for trade talks between Mr Hammond and senior Chinese government figures during the brief visit this week. But last week, Gavin Williamson had indicated the UK's intention to send an aircraft carrier to the Pacific.
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
US/China trade talks resume in Washington... and are going “extremely well”

US-China trade talks aimed at ending a damaging tariff war will resume from this Tuesday in Washington, the White House has announced. The last set of talks ended Friday in Beijing with no deal, though US President Donald Trump said the discussions were going “extremely well” and suggested he could extend a Mar 1 truce deadline for an agreement to be reached.
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:19 UTC
Sixteen states sue Trump on his national emergency order to build the wall with Mexico

Sixteen US states sued President Donald Trump's administration on Monday over his decision to declare a national emergency to fund a wall on the southern border with Mexico, saying the move violated the constitution. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in California, said the president's order was contrary to the Presentment Clause that outlines legislative procedures and the Appropriations Clause, which defines Congress as the final arbiter of public funds.
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:18 UTC
US sailor in iconic photo in New York celebrating the end of WWII, has died

The US sailor famously photographed kissing a stranger in New York's Times Square to celebrate the end of World War Two has died aged 95. The picture of George Mendonsa bending over and kissing 21-year-old Greta Zimmer Friedman on VJ Day (Victory over Japan) became one of the most enduring images of the period.
Tuesday, February 19th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
UK Border Force nets 34 migrants in a boat in the Channel

A group of 34 migrants have been brought ashore after the UK Border Force intercepted a boat in the Channel. The group of people, whose nationalities are not yet known, were brought to shore at Dover by a coastal patrol vessel and given blankets.