Stories for July 2019

Friday, July 19th 2019 - 09:42 UTC
African swine fever: Pork prices in China soaring and the worst is yet to come

Pork prices have been sent soaring and herds devastated as African swine fever tears through China's massive pig-farming industry, forcing the country to ramp up imports to satisfy demand - but analysts warn worse is yet to come.
Friday, July 19th 2019 - 09:36 UTC
Incoming EC head open to grant UK more time: “we don't want a hard Brexit”

The future head of the European Commission said she would be minded to grant Britain an extension to talks on its exit from the EU if London gave good grounds, adding that an orderly departure was important to launch future ties on a good footing.
Friday, July 19th 2019 - 09:33 UTC
Trump administration lifts ban on pesticide chlorpyrifos, linked to children health issues

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday said it will not ban the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, which has been linked to health issues in children, from use on U.S.-grown fruits and vegetables.
Friday, July 19th 2019 - 09:30 UTC
Giant manta ray asks for help with fishing hooks below its eye

A giant manta ray with several fishing hooks caught below its eye appeared to ask two nearby divers for help in removing them and then waited patiently for them to do so.
Friday, July 19th 2019 - 09:17 UTC
Controversial UK defense contract will cost taxpayers an extra GBP 10 million

Serco Group PLC said on Thursday it has settled with the UK Ministry of Defense after it initially took legal action against the government department for awarding a fire and rescue services contract to Capita PLC.
Friday, July 19th 2019 - 08:14 UTC
Two Iranian vessels stranded in Brazil with no fuel because of US sanctions

Two Iranian vessels have been stranded for weeks at Brazilian ports, unable to head back to Iran due to lack of fuel, which state-run oil firm Petrobras refuses to sell them due to sanctions imposed by the United States.
Thursday, July 18th 2019 - 23:55 UTC
Falklands/Malvinas war experience conference forcibly cancelled at Buenos Aires college

An open conference by two Argentine Air Force pilots at an elite college in Buenos Aires had to be suspended following “ill-treatment” and overall questioning of Argentine armed forces conduct by the students and apparently one of the parents that were also invited to the event.
Thursday, July 18th 2019 - 12:51 UTC
Power cuts in Cuba not due to shortage of oil, minister says

The Cuban government Wednesday explained the repeated blackouts in the country but are due to breakdowns in the electricity-producing machinery and not because of a shortage of oil that can be attributed to sanctions by the United States.
Thursday, July 18th 2019 - 12:25 UTC
Moscow claims Argentine politician played 'the Russian card' as presidential elections loom over

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Wednesday denounced attempts by several Argentine parliament members to link Moscow to alleged interfering into their country's presidential elections. It was “a last-year trend,” she said, according to the news agency Tass.
Thursday, July 18th 2019 - 12:14 UTC
Montevideo gas workers lift strike after government's announcements

As the Uruguayan state has vowed to take over the administration of departing Montevideo cooking gas suppliers Montevideo Gas and Conecta and jobs have been secured, the UOEGAS workers' union has agreed to end the strike, starting this Friday.