Stories for August 6th 2019

Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 12:55 UTC
No end in Brazil to controversy, while deforestation continues: 67% increase over the same period last year

Deforestation in Brazil's rainforest has jumped around 67% in the first seven months of the year, according to preliminary data from Brazil's space research agency, which the government has attacked as misleading and harmful to the national interest.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:30 UTC
The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt stretches 5.592 miles, fed with rich nutrients from farms along the Amazon river

Slimy, stinky brown seaweed that ruins beachgoers' vacations from Mexico to Florida may be the new normal unless Brazil halts Amazon deforestation, experts say. The culprit, called sargassum, turns clear-blue seawater a murky brown and smells like rotten eggs when it washes ashore and starts to rot.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:20 UTC
Trump blocks all assets of the Venezuelan government in US

Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order “Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela.”
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:10 UTC
Colorado Party of Paraguay urges lawmakers and supporters to stand behind President Abdo

Paraguay's Colorado Party Monday backed its support of President Mario Abdo in the aftermath of the political scandal sparked last week when the somber Itaipu electricity deal with Brazil was unearthed, leaving the government on the brink of impeachment, a threat which has been averted.... for now.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:08 UTC
Uruguay joins Venezuela, recommends travellers visiting US to take extreme precautions because of violence and hate crimes

After the weekend shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, which left more than 31 dead, Uruguay followed on Monday Venezuela and warned their citizens to exercise caution when traveling in the United States.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:05 UTC
Two priests and a gardener on trial in Argentine for sexually abusing deaf children

Two priests and a gardener appeared in court on Monday to face charges of sexually abusing deaf children in their care, in a case that has sent shockwaves through Argentina's Catholic church.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:01 UTC
British Foreign secretary Raab travels to US, Canada and Mexico to boost trade, ahead of Brexit

British foreign minister Dominic Raab will travel to Canada, the United States and Mexico this week to seek to boost ties with non-European countries ahead of Brexit, his office said.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 09:57 UTC
US dollar up in Argentina on fears of Sunday's primaries and the global trade dispute

Argentina’s peso fell 1.8% on Monday to 45.49 per U.S. dollar due to uncertainty over the country’s presidential election and the fallout from U.S.-China trade tensions, traders said.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 09:48 UTC
Bolsonaro argues that disarming people is not going to stop mass shootings

President Jair Bolsonaro argued for his signature policy of relaxing gun control measures, saying they will not stop mass shootings such as those that left 31 dead in the US over the weekend. “Disarming people isn't going to keep that from happening,” Bolsonaro said.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 09:48 UTC
The Titanic ship yard broke and in administration; the end of North Ireland's once proud iconic industry

Accountancy firm BDO has been appointed administrators to North Ireland's shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, a spokesman for the Belfast shipyard has said. An insolvency request is expected to be filed at the High Court in Belfast on Tuesday.