Stories for May 2019

Friday, May 10th 2019 - 06:00 UTC
US/China conclude first of two days of talks; Trump's tariff hike anticipated

Top US and Chinese trade negotiators concluded the first of two days of talks on Thursday to rescue a trade deal that is close to collapsing as Washington prepares to go ahead with plans to hike tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods imported from China.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 13:22 UTC
Pompeo warns UK on intelligence sharing if Huawei is involved in a British network

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made a blistering attack against China as he stepped up pressure on Britain, warning that US intelligence-sharing could be risked by the involvement of a Chinese company in a new British telecommunications network.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 12:56 UTC
Ex Brazilian environment ministers blast Bolsonaro's forestry and water policies

Eight former Brazilian environment ministers blasted new right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro and his administration in a letter on Wednesday, saying it is dismantling the country's environmental protections.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 12:28 UTC
Brazil central bank leaves interest rates unchanged at 6.5%

Brazil's central bank held fire on interest rates on Wednesday despite lackluster growth in Latin America's biggest economy and uncertainty over President Jair Bolsonaro's ability to push through a much-needed pension reform.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 09:59 UTC
Maduro's police arrest the Venezuelan Parliament vice president after the failed military uprising

The intelligence of Nicolás Maduro's regime detained Edgar Zambrano, vice president of the National Assembly (AN) of Venezuela, on Wednesday, after having supported the military uprising on April 30 against the authoritarian mandatory in the framework of the final phase of Operation Freedom, led by Parliament’s president, Juan Guaidó.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Former Brazilian president Temer ordered to return to jail

Former President Michel Temer was ordered to return to jail by a federal judge on Wednesday while he is investigated in several cases of alleged corruption. Temer’s lawyer, Eduardo Carnelos, told Globo Television that he could only “lament” the court’s decision. He said Temer would have to present himself to authorities Thursday.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 09:57 UTC
Trump spoke to Macri to strongly support Argentina's economic reforms

US President Donald Trump spoke with Argentina's leader Mauricio Macri on Wednesday and voiced support for the country's economic reforms, the White House said in a statement.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 09:55 UTC
Bolsonaro denies he's a racist and that racism is a problem in Brazil

Racism is an insignificant problem in Brazil, according to President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been accused of not just racist but also homophobic and sexist comments in the past. Bolsonaro spoke to Rede TV in an interview broadcast on Tuesday night, in which he defended his record on a number of controversial subjects.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Margaret Thatcher, a turning point in British politics

By Greg Wright (*) - She arrived in 10 Downing Street to a chorus of cheers and boos, but promising to be true to the philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi and bring harmony to a nation riven by divisions.
Thursday, May 9th 2019 - 09:32 UTC
World markets on the edge waiting for Friday's China/US trade talks outcome

Asian markets once again fell into the red on Thursday as investors anxiously await the start of high-stakes trade talks between China and the United States. After several rounds of negotiations, the two-day meeting in Washington, which kicks off later in the day, has taken on huge significance after Donald Trump threatened to ramp up tariffs on Chinese goods from Friday blaming backsliding by Beijing.