Stories for April 12th 2019

Friday, April 12th 2019 - 21:33 UTC
Instead of agrochemicals, Uruguay uses wasps to develop non-genetically modified soy

In Uruguay, non-genetically modified soy (GMO) soy is being developed in order to compete in a market saturated by the volume of crops in the region. Nevertheless, the country’s government hopes Uruguayan soy will stand out for its quality rather than for the volume of harvests motivating soy producers to use “biological controls” to combat pests.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 21:17 UTC
Tourists are cashing in on Argentina’s economic woes

International travelers are flocking to Argentina, taking advantage of the poorly performing peso to boost the value of their holiday spending money, according to latest data.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 18:06 UTC
Swiss government wants to get rid of its coffee emergency stockpile

The Swiss government wants to put an end to its emergency stockpile of coffee after declaring that it is “not essential” for human survival. Switzerland began storing emergency reserves of coffee between World War One and World War Two in preparation for potential shortages.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 18:03 UTC
Doctor finds four live small sweat bees living in a woman's eye lid

A Taiwanese doctor removed four small sweat bees living inside a woman’s eye lid, and they were all still alive. The woman, who was reportedly identified as Ms. He, was apparently doing some work outside when the minuscule insects flew into her eyes. The bugs caused agony in He’s eye for hours until she finally received medical attention at a hospital in southern Taiwan.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 17:32 UTC
A leading Brazilian coffee exporter files for bankruptcy, hoping to restructure a debt of US$ 282 million

Terra Forte, one of the largest Brazilian coffee exporters, has filed for bankruptcy protection in a Sao Paulo state court, lawyers for the company said. Law firm Freire, Assis, Sakamoto e Violante said Terra Forte was looking to restructure 1.1 billion reais (US$ 288.2 million) in debt.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 12:09 UTC
US accuses Assange of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion

British police dragged WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange out of Ecuador’s embassy on Thursday after his seven-year asylum was revoked for his extradition to the United States for one of the biggest ever leaks of classified information.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 10:10 UTC
May defends the Brexit delay in Parliament, but Euro-skeptics call for her resignation

British Prime Minister Theresa May defended her decision to delay Brexit and seek a compromise exit plan with the opposition Labour Party as one angry lawmaker from her own party stood up in parliament on Thursday and asked her to resign.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 10:04 UTC
Bank of England sees a “window of time” to forge a Brexit consensus

British politicians could now take some time to find a way forward on Brexit, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Thursday, after Prime Minister Theresa May agreed on a delay of up to six months before leaving the European Union.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 09:49 UTC
IMF: “foolish” for Argentine presidential candidates to abandon the program

Argentina’s economic reform program is beginning to show results, so it would “foolish” for presidential candidates to abandon the program, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said Thursday.
Friday, April 12th 2019 - 09:48 UTC
Venezuela ships a million barrels of oil to Cuba despite US sanctions

Venezuela's state-run PDVSA has shipped one million barrels of oil to Cuba days after the United States imposed fresh sanctions on vessels and firms involved in exports to the island in an effort to halt oil trade between the political allies, according to a PDVSA document and tanker tracking data.