Stories for August 2019

Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 09:42 UTC
Bolivia admits fires have destroyed 1.2m hectares of forest; ecologists demand an end to bill promoting pastures

Fires have destroyed 1.2 million hectares of forest and grasslands in Bolivia this year, the government said on Wednesday, though environmentalists claim the true figure is much greater.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 09:42 UTC
US did not agree to the G7 US$ 20 million emergency aid for the Amazon

The United States did not agree to a US$20 million emergency aid package to help battle wildfires announced by French President Emmanuel Macron at a G7 summit this weekend, a spokesman for the US National Security Council (NSC) said on Wednesday.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 09:41 UTC
Venezuela political talks “aren't working”, admits opposition leader Guaidó

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido admitted on Wednesday that talks with the government of President Nicolas Maduro aimed at resolving the country's political crisis “aren't working.” Talks mediated by Norway first took place in May in Oslo with several subsequent rounds in Barbados.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 08:42 UTC
Petrobras privatization: still the crown jewel and needs congressional approval

Brazil's influential finance minister has convinced President Jair Bolsonaro to consider the once-unthinkable step of privatizing state-owned oil company Petrobras , but stiff political opposition could stifle any effort to sell the country's corporate crown jewel.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 08:10 UTC
French mayors propose pesticide-free buffer zones around residential areas

France is looking at introducing pesticide-free buffer zones around housing areas after several local mayors defied the government by banning weed killers such as glyphosate in their towns.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 08:05 UTC
Fashion Forever 21 preparing for potential bankruptcy filing, says Bloomberg

Fashion retailer Forever 21 Inc is preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the plans.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 07:29 UTC
Thule island occupation: Argentine navy tested UK's resolve as part of its long term plan to take the Falklands

The Argentine government declassified a secret decree from the latest military dictatorship which authorized and funded an operation for the “effective and peaceful” occupation of one of the South Atlantic islands, occupied by the UK , in what was considered a first step to the ultimate goal of taking over the Falkland Islands.
Thursday, August 29th 2019 - 06:42 UTC
Medicine mix-up in Spain develops into “werewolf syndrome” children

At least 17 children developed so-called “werewolf syndrome” in a major medicine mix-up in Spain, the health ministry said on Wednesday. They are suffering from the rare condition known as hypertrichosis that causes abnormal hair growth.
Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 10:51 UTC
Brexit or no Brexit: Boris Johnson asks the Queen to suspend Parliament

The United Kingdom government has asked the Queen to suspend Parliament just days after MPs return to work in September - and only a few weeks before the Brexit deadline.
Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 10:04 UTC
Norwegian investment funds warn global agricultural companies linked to Amazon deforestation

The two most sizeable investors in Norway have told global companies to make sure they are not contributing to environmental destruction in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil.