Stories for April 18th 2019

Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 09:45 UTC
Ex Peruvian president Alan Garcia shoots himself in the head

Former Peruvian President Alan García was reported to have died on Wednesday after shooting himself in the head minutes before a warrant for his arrest was to be executed. Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez, 69, was president of Peru from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He also served in Congress.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 09:44 UTC
Macri announces freeze in the price of basic goods and in public services

Argentina's President Mauricio Macri announced a freeze in the price of basic goods and public services on Wednesday in a bid to limit the impact of spiraling inflation that could hamper his re-election hopes in October. Hit by soaring prices due to inflation that reached almost 55% over the last 12 months, many Argentines have been calling for a change in economic policy.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 09:43 UTC
Transparency International blasts Brazilian Justice for violating freedom of expression

A decision by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) to demand the suppression of a media report concerning one of the court’s sitting judges violates the freedom of the press, warns Transparency International Brazil. The demand to remove the report from the internet is unacceptable, risks the international image of Brazil and goes against fundamental principles of the democratic rule of law.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 09:42 UTC
Red Cross humanitarian aid begins to flow into Venezuela; first shipment was flown in from Panama

A second shipment of Red Cross humanitarian aid will arrive in Venezuela in around three weeks, the charity organization said on Wednesday, reiterating its plea for the issue not to be politicized.“There's a shipment coming by sea that we expect to be in the country on May 8,” said Hernan Bongioanni, the Red Cross commissioner for this mission.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 09:41 UTC
Petrobras insists it is completely free of political interference and increases diesel price 10 cents

Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras hiked diesel prices on Wednesday, and executives said the firm could expand its already aggressive divestment plan while arguing the company was completely free of political interference.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
China's growth stabilizes 6.4% year-on-year in first quarter

The growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in China stabilized 6.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2019, despite falling global demand and the trade war with the United States. The figure was announced on Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (BNS), along with other rather optimistic indicators on the health of the world's second largest economy.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 09:05 UTC
Toyota Brazil to build a Corolla sedan that runs on electricity, ethanol and gas

Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp said on Wednesday it will begin building a new version of the Corolla sedan in Brazil that will run on electricity, ethanol and gas, which it says will be the first vehicle of its kind in the world.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 08:33 UTC
Spain's Repsol suspends swaps of refined products for crude from Venezuela

Spain’s Repsol has suspended its swaps of refined products for crude with Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA, as U.S. officials weigh penalties for foreign firms doing business with Venezuela.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 08:22 UTC
Minister says pension reform will pass within four months, helping the Brazilian economy to grow by 3.5%

Brazil's economic growth may accelerate to a 3.5% annual rate in the second half of the year after the approval of pension reforms, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said in an interview with TV channel Globo news.
Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 07:48 UTC
Bolton announces further crackdown on “the three stooges of socialism”

The Trump administration on Wednesday intensified its crackdown on Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, rolling back Obama administration policy and announcing new restrictions and sanctions against the three countries whose leaders national security adviser John Bolton dubbed the “three stooges of socialism.”