Stories for April 20th 2019

Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 11:40 UTC
Emma Thompson joined climate change activists in central London

Film star Emma Thompson joined climate change activists in a central London shopping district on Friday to read poetry praising Earth's bounties, part of five days of protests which clogged the British capital with transport snarl-ups.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 09:43 UTC
England and France top bankers warn of financial risks associated to climate change

The heads of two major central banks have written a stark warning about the financial risks of climate change. Bank of England governor Mark Carney and France's François Villeroy de Galhau set out the dangers to the global economy in an open letter.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 09:35 UTC
Vatican denounces widespread inequality in the world during the Good Friday service

Pope Francis listened as a preacher denounced the widespread inequality in the world at a Good Friday service on the day Christians recall Jesus' death by crucifixion. During the “Passion of the Lord” service in St Peter's Basilica, songs in Latin recounted the last hours in Jesus' life, from his arrest to his burial.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 09:26 UTC
Venezuelan opposition prepared to pay US$ 71 million bond interests to save Citgo from seizure by creditors

Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly expects to vote on making a US$71 million bond interest payment when it meets next week, a lawmaker and a member of state-run oil company PDVSA's ad-hoc board of directors said.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 09:21 UTC
Argentina's think tank CARI underlines the significance of China's Belt and Road forum

Argentine experts have expressed the belief that the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation can yield more concrete steps for collaboration between China and Latin America. Members of the Asian Affairs Committee at Argentina's Council on International Relations (CARI), a leading think tank, spoke to China's government news agency Xinhua in the lead-up to the forum.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 08:51 UTC
China's Belt and Road forum becomes the main world event during three days in April

Chinese President Xi Jinping will host nearly 40 heads of state next week at the second Belt and Road forum, which is expected to produce more deals for companies and banks that want in on the latter-day Silk Road mega-project. The strong showing is a testament to the project's standing despite its multiple criticisms, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 08:45 UTC
Japan joins the mid-sized commercial aircraft market: right plane at the right time

A new, long-delayed 88-passenger jet from Japan may finally be the right airplane at the right time. More cities in Asia and Europe are seeking to link up with each other and the global air travel network. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), the first airliner built in Japan since the 1960s, began certification flights last month in Moses Lake, Washington, to satisfy that demand.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 08:37 UTC
Alan Garcia in suicide note denies all charges: “I leave my body as a sign of my contempt for my opponents”

Peru's late former president Alan Garcia left a suicide note denying the corruption charges against him before taking his own life, one of his children revealed on Friday. Garcia, who was 69, died on Wednesday after shooting himself in the head when police came to his home to arrest him over allegations of money laundering during his time in office.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 08:24 UTC
Guaido calls on Venezuelans for the mother of all demonstrations on Labor Day

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaidó called on Friday for the “biggest demonstration in history” to put pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to step down. The National Assembly head launched a challenge to Maduro's authority in January, declaring himself acting president.
Saturday, April 20th 2019 - 07:58 UTC
Five French refurbished Super Etendard fighter bombers en route to Argentina

Argentina will be receiving in a few weeks time five refurbished Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard (SEM) fighter bombers decommissioned from the French navy. The 13 million Euro purchase also includes a flight simulator, engines and spares and are currently sailing across the Atlantic en route to Bahía Blanca.