Stories for May 2019

Friday, May 31st 2019 - 09:25 UTC
US Treasury monitoring list of countries with large trade surplus and possible currency manipulation

The US Treasury expanded the number of countries subject to scrutiny in a semi-annual report released this week, but again found that neither China nor any other trading partners was manipulating its currency. The treasury urged the Asian giant to avoid allowing the renminbi to weaken persistently - which would give its products a more competitive advantage.
Friday, May 31st 2019 - 09:24 UTC
Pompeo blames Iran for attacks on oil tankers: “they want to raise the price of crude”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday blamed Iran for attacks this month on oil tankers in the Gulf, saying it was an effort by Tehran to raise the global price of oil.
Friday, May 31st 2019 - 09:20 UTC
Brazil 's Attorney General sues Philips Morris and British American Tobacco

Brazil is following the U.S. and Canada in taking on Big Tobacco, becoming the first country in Latin America to sue cigarette makers over the financial toll of smoking. Brazil’s attorney general’s office, known as the AGU, last week sued the two largest cigarette manufacturers in the country, Phillip Morris International and British American Tobacco, to cover the costs of treating patients with 26 tobacco-related diseases over the past five years.
Friday, May 31st 2019 - 09:19 UTC
“Russia, Russia, investigation...” triggers furious reactions from Trump

President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time on Thursday that Moscow helped him win the White House in 2016 - before retracting himself to launch a fiery attack on Robert Mueller and the Russia probe.
Friday, May 31st 2019 - 08:57 UTC
Ahead of UK visit, Trump praises Farage and Johnson: “they are friends of mine”

United States president Donald Trump praised the two most high-profile proponents of Britain's departure from the European Union on Thursday ahead of his planned visit to London at a time of political turmoil following the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May.
Friday, May 31st 2019 - 08:49 UTC
Falklands permanent flagpole at Portsmouth harbour

Falkland Islands lawmakers MLAs Mark Pollard, Leona Roberts and Roger Spink on 24th May visited Portsmouth to present a ceremonial Falkland Islands flag and plaque to the City of Portsmouth and its veterans; to be flown at the Falklands Memorial by the Square Tower, on the iconic Portsmouth harbour.
Thursday, May 30th 2019 - 10:51 UTC
MacKenzie Bezos pledges to donate half her fortune to charity

MacKenzie Bezos, who finalized her divorce to Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos in April, has pledged to give at least half her fortune to charity. She became one of the richest people in the world following her split from Mr Bezos, and has an estimated personal fortune of US$36.6 billion, according to CNN.
Thursday, May 30th 2019 - 09:59 UTC
Bill to weaken environmental protection of the Amazon forest fails in Brazilian congress

An attempt by Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and lawmakers backed by big agriculture to weaken environmental laws protecting the Amazon forest and other biomes has failed, as Congress will not vote into law a decree that weakened existing legislation.
Thursday, May 30th 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Unions and opposition promote 24-hour strike paralyzing Argentina

Opponents of Argentina's President Mauricio Macri launched a 24-hour strike on Wednesday to protest the government's inability to reduce inflation that has reached 55% over the past year. The strike paralyzed public transport while all flights to and from the country's airports were canceled. Banks, schools and universities remained closed.
Thursday, May 30th 2019 - 09:57 UTC
It's official: Labour demands a general election or a referendum on any Brexit deal

The leader of Britain's main opposition Labour party Jeremy Corbyn - criticized for failing to take a clear position on Brexit - on Wednesday said the only way out of the political crisis was to hold a general election or a second “public vote on any deal agreed by parliament”.