Stories for August 2019

Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 09:08 UTC
First ordained bishop in China following on Beijing and Vatican deal

China has ordained its first bishop since reaching an agreement with the Catholic Church intended to encourage a rapprochement between Beijing and the Holy See. China's roughly 12 million Catholics have for decades been split between a government-run association, whose clergy were chosen by the atheist Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican.
Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 09:03 UTC
BP divests from Alaska's Prudhoe Bay to concentrate in Texas shale

British oil giant BP on Tuesday agreed to sell all its Alaskan properties for US$5.6 billion to privately held Hilcorp Energy Co, exiting a region where it operated for 60 years.
Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 08:09 UTC
Bolsonaro will consider G7 aid for the Amazon if Macron retracts from “insults”

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he wants French President Emmanuel Macron to retract “insults” against him before he considers accepting aid from the Group of Seven nations who offered US$20 million to help fight forest fires in the Amazon.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 20:55 UTC
Fernandez tells the mining industry that exports are “the only solution” for Argentina

Argentina's opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez told mining companies and governors from key mining provinces on Monday that exports were “the only solution” for Argentina, his coalition said.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 20:52 UTC
IMF meets Argentine opposition leader: “constructive talks”, but the Fund is blamed for the current situation

A team from the International Monetary Fund met on Monday with opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez, the front-runner for October's presidential election, according to a spokesman for Fernandez.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 11:47 UTC
Argentina and Brazil replacing US as main soybean suppliers of China

Amid trade tensions with the US, China's July soybean imports from Argentina increased 328% month on month and 269% year on year to 1.07 million metric tons, according to customs data.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 10:56 UTC
Argentines fear of a repeat of the “corralitos” of 1989 and 2002

It happened in 1989. It happened in 2002. Argentines who are old enough to remember do not want to go through it again.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 09:57 UTC
Brazil rejects G7 aid, and tells Macron to reforest Europe and to look after world heritage sites

Brazil rejected aid from G7 countries to fight wildfires in the Amazon, with a top official telling French President Emmanuel Macron to take care of “his home and his colonies.”
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 09:55 UTC
Brazil's Bolsonaro rating collapses, according to latest opinion polls

The approval rating of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro’s government has plunged to 29.4% in August from 38.9% in February, according to a poll published on Monday that showed a majority of Brazilians are unhappy with his performance.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 09:44 UTC
G7 summit pledges US$ 20 million for firefighting planes to tackle Amazon blazes

The G7 will give US$20 million (€18 million) to send firefighting planes to tackle the blazes engulfing parts of the Amazon, the presidents of France and Chile said on Monday.