Stories for August 2019

Friday, August 30th 2019 - 08:57 UTC
Court bids in London, Edinburgh and Belfast to stop the “coup”, suspension of parliament; more street protests programmed

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suspension of parliament just weeks before Britain's EU departure date faced legal challenges on Thursday amid a furious outcry from pro-Europeans and MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit.
Friday, August 30th 2019 - 08:43 UTC
Trump launches a new force branch for space warfare to ensure US dominance

President Donald Trump launched a new Pentagon command dedicated to warfare in space on Thursday, as American armed forces chiefs see China and Russia pressing hard to erode the US advantage in the newest military frontier.
Friday, August 30th 2019 - 07:40 UTC
Central America suffering the worst outbreak of dengue fever in decades

Central America is grappling with its worst outbreak of dengue fever in decades - and scientists say the disease is likely to spread and become more frequent in the future due to climate change.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 19:12 UTC
US State Department confirms close association with Argentina and whoever wins 27 October election

United States said on Wednesday it expects to continue with the solid association with Argentina, 'whoever is the candidate that the Argentine people elect as their next president', on 27 October according to a source from US State Department Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 19:00 UTC
Ivanka Trump will be visiting Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay

United States Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan will travel with Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump to Colombia, Argentina, and Paraguay September 3-6.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 10:50 UTC
Argentina announces it will “re profile” IMF loan and sovereign bonds' maturities

Argentina will negotiate with holders of its sovereign bonds and the International Monetary Fund to extend the maturities of its debt obligations, as a way of ensuring the country's ability to pay, Treasury Minister Hernan Lacunza said on Wednesday.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 10:16 UTC
Argentina sells US$ 367m reserves to prop the Peso; country risk at another record level, 2.125 points

Argentina’s peso was battered on Wednesday as the central bank sold US$ 367 million of its dollar reserves in a second consecutive day of heavy intervention aimed at controlling the currency’s fall. Likewise the country risk rose 135 basis points to 2,125, its highest in 14 years, before partially recovering, according to the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 10:00 UTC
Furious reactions, political and in the streets to the suspension of Parliament

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson manoeuvred on Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a chaotic no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II’s approval to suspend Parliament, but his critics were outraged.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 09:49 UTC
IMF held “productive talks” in Argentina and is analyzing the impact of the latest debt operation announced

The International Monetary Fund is analyzing the impact of a new debt plan announced by Argentina’s Treasury Ministry on Wednesday, an IMF spokesman said. IMF staff understands that Argentina has taken “important steps” to address liquidity needs and safeguard reserves, the statement by IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 09:45 UTC
Bolsonaro will join with other Amazon countries to set a common policy to protect the rainforest

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Wednesday he would meet with other South American countries to set common policy for defending the Amazon rain forest, while his foreign minister said Brazil should be seen as an environmental hero.