Stories for April 2019

Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Maduro increasing the civilian militia by a million to three million by end of 2019

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has said he wants a million more people to join his civilian militia by the end of the year. The call to expand the militia - which answers directly to Mr. Maduro - comes as opposition leader Juan Guaidó seeks to persuade the Venezuelan military to abandon the president. So far the military has stayed loyal.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:39 UTC
Declassified U.S. Documents Reveal Details About Argentina’s Dictatorship

The assassination squad created by Argentina’s military dictatorship to target dissidents during the 1970s had, like other state programs, its own bureaucratic rules: Employees punched in at 9:30 a.m. and were entitled to a two-hour lunch. They received a US$ 1,000 clothing allowance during their first overseas mission. And they were required to submit expense reports.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:38 UTC
Ecuadorean president claims Assange used the embassy in London as a “center for spying”

Julian Assange used the Ecuadorian embassy in London as a “centre for spying”, the country's leader has said. Lenin Moreno also said no other nation had influenced the decision to revoke the WikiLeaks founder's asylum, which he said followed violations by Assange.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:37 UTC
Record breaking tourist year for France despite the Yellow Vest protests

According to France’s national statistics institute (INSEE), the number of nights foreign tourists spent in the country’s hotels, campsites and youth hostels reached 438.2 million, marking an increase of nine million visitors against the previous year.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:35 UTC
Pompeo pays tribute to Peru for receiving 700.000 Venezuela refugees

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ended a visit to Peru on Sunday and travelled to the Colombian border city of Cucuta, crossed through by thousands of Venezuelans fleeing crisis under President Nicolas Maduro.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:34 UTC
Brazil fuel-price controversy: Minister Guedes confident he can convince Bolsonaro and overcome the situation

Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said he’ll clear up any confusion from President Jair Bolsonaro’s decision to halt a planned fuel-price hike by Petrobras.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:33 UTC
Brazilian president Bolsonaro clarifies his remarks on the Holocaust

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has clarified remarks he made on Friday about the Holocaust which were vehemently condemned by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center and Israel's President Reuven Rivlin.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:27 UTC
American Airlines extends cancellation of Boeing 737Max8 flights until mid August

American Airlines is extending the cancellation of its Boeing 737 Max 8 flights from June until mid-August. The move is to “provide confidence” to customers during the peak summer travel season, the airline said in a letter. Last month, 737 Max aircraft were grounded worldwide following fatal crashes involving Ethiopian Airlines and Indonesia's Lion Air.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:21 UTC
The endangered North Atlantic right whales seem to be recovering and calving

One of the world's most endangered whale species is experiencing a mini baby boom off the US state of Massachusetts. Researchers at the Center for Coastal Studies have announced they have seen three North Atlantic right whale mother and calf pairs in Cape Cod Bay.
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 09:17 UTC
Canada suspended direct aid to Nicaragua in 2018 in response to human rights violations

The Canadian government said on Sunday it suspended financial aid to Nicaragua last year in response to human rights violations - a decision not publicly disclosed until now.