Stories for May 23rd 2019

Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Chagos islands decolonization: stunning defeat for UK in UN assembly

United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly demanded on Wednesday that Britain give up control over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean within six months, dealing a diplomatic blow to Britain and the United States.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 09:57 UTC
Markets in the red on Wednesday over concerns with China-US trade dispute

US stocks fell back into the red on Wednesday, putting equities down for three of the last four sessions as investors reacted to reports of possible new US-China trade frictions.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 09:54 UTC
Nicaragua national strike to pressure the Ortega regime to release political prisoners

Nicaragua's opposition on Wednesday called a 24-hour general strike to increase pressure on the government of President Daniel Ortega to release prisoners as agreed in peace talks between the two sides.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 09:45 UTC
Countdown week for PM May; leader of the House resigns unconvinced of fourth Brexit deal proposal

Prominent Brexit supporter Andrea Leadsom resigned from Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Wednesday, piling pressure on the British leader after a new Brexit gambit backfired and fuelled calls for her to quit.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 09:44 UTC
Iran's Supreme Leader announces the demise or Israel and US civilization

Iran's youth will witness the demise of Israel and American civilization, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday in comments published on his official website.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 09:43 UTC
Brazil's Prosecutor suing major tobacco companies for health costs derived from smoking

Brazil's solicitor general's office is suing the world's largest cigarette makers British American Tobacco Plc and Philip Morris International to recover the public health treatment costs of tobacco-related diseases over the last five years. The office, known as the AGU, announced the landmark lawsuit late on Tuesday against the two multinational companies and their Brazilian subsidiaries.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 09:04 UTC
British Steel and 25.000 jobs on the brink: waiting for government life line

British Steel, the country’s second-largest steel producer, is on the brink of collapse unless the government agrees to provide an emergency 30 million pound (US$ 38 million) loan, two sources close to the situation said.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 08:59 UTC
England's to ban plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers by April 2020

Plastic straws, drinks stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds will be banned in England from April 2020, British Environment Secretary Michael Gove said on Wednesday.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 08:49 UTC
President Xi tells China to prepare for increasingly complex and difficult times

China must prepare for difficult times as the international situation is increasingly complex, President Xi Jinping said in comments carried by state media on Wednesday, as the country faces increased tariffs in a bitter trade war with Washington.
Thursday, May 23rd 2019 - 08:46 UTC
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played with 32 teams

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was dealt a blow on Wednesday when world football's governing body shelved a proposed expansion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams.