Stories for April 2019

Friday, April 5th 2019 - 08:58 UTC
Pressure on Russia to release juvenile whales in small pens; apparently to be sold to Chinese marine parks

International pressure is growing for the Russian government to release nearly 100 juvenile whales which have been kept in small pens in the far east for seven months. French marine scientist Jean-Michel Cousteau and other experts are meeting government officials in Moscow. They plan to visit the so-called “whale jail” near Nakhodka on Saturday.
Friday, April 5th 2019 - 08:52 UTC
Ex Republican presidential hopeful, Trump’s candidate for the Fed

United States President Donald Trump has confirmed he recommended former Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain for a seat on the Federal Reserve Board. Mr Trump told reporters at the White House Mr Cain is undergoing background checks to join America's central bank.
Friday, April 5th 2019 - 08:46 UTC
Boeing admits the anti-stall system was a factor in the crash of Ethiopian Flight

The Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last month nosedived several times before it hit the ground, a preliminary report has said. Pilots “repeatedly” followed procedures recommended by Boeing before the crash, according to the first official report.
Friday, April 5th 2019 - 08:43 UTC
Merkel in Dublin declares Germany is “a strong and unwavering ally of Ireland”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany will stand with Ireland “every step of the way” over Brexit. She was speaking following talks in Dublin with the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) about the current deadlock.
Friday, April 5th 2019 - 08:37 UTC
Record breaking divorce settlement for Bezos ex wife: US$ 35 billion

The world's richest man, Jeff Bezos, and his wife MacKenzie have agreed with a record-breaking divorce settlement worth at least US$35bn. Ms. Bezos will retain a 4% stake in online retail giant Amazon which her husband of 25 years found.
Thursday, April 4th 2019 - 10:05 UTC
Kremlin officials can't understand why official stats show Russians are so poor

The Kremlin press secretary has said he cannot understand a survey that shows that Russians struggle to afford new shoes. Dmitry Peskov was commenting on a report by state statistics agency Rosstat.
Thursday, April 4th 2019 - 10:03 UTC
Falklands' notice to mariners regarding GPS Week Number Rollover

The Falkland Islands Government Harbor Master has issued the following safety release to mariners referred to GPS and UTC on April 6.
Thursday, April 4th 2019 - 09:52 UTC
UK Police has 10.000 officers ready for a possible no-deal Brexit and “inflamed consequences”

Politicians and campaigners should take care not to “inflame” tensions in the UK caused by Brexit, a senior police chief has warned. Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said people should think carefully to avoid inciting others to violence. The warning follows increased concern about intimidation of MPs.
Thursday, April 4th 2019 - 09:46 UTC
Argentine soybean farmers sign delayed-price contracts hoping for a US/China trade deal and higher prices

Soybean growers in Argentina are playing a waiting game, wagering on better prices ahead as the U.S. and China inch toward a trade deal and as nation’s currency keeps depreciating. Farmers on the Pampas arable belt have signed delayed-price contracts for almost three quarters of the 12.2 million metric tons they’ve sold to crushers and exporters so far, according to government data. That compares with 60% at the same stage last year.
Thursday, April 4th 2019 - 09:43 UTC
Argentina requests waiver ahead of IMF's third review to further release funds

Argentina has requested a waiver from the International Monetary Fund as some data would not be available in time for the fund's third review this week of US$ 56.3 billion in standby financing agreed last year, a Treasury spokesman said on Wednesday.