Stories for August 2019

Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Mass shootings: Trump says “hate has no place” but fingers point to his divisive rhetoric

An under-fire President Donald Trump said on Sunday that “hate has no place” in the United States after two mass shootings left 29 dead and sparked accusations that his rhetoric was part of the problem.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Sacked head of Brazil's space agency insists that rising deforestation in the Amazon was undeniable

Ricardo Galvao, the sacked head of Brazil’s space research agency, said the trend of sharply rising deforestation was undeniable, a day after he was fired following a public spat with President Jair Bolsonaro over data published by the agency.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:55 UTC
Falklands farm delegation will visit Uruguay as part of an agriculture exchange

In a joint initiative between the Falkland Islands government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, an agricultural exchange visit to Uruguay is being arranged for September 2019.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:24 UTC
Some 20 pilot whales die stranded in Iceland in mysterious circumstances

Some 20 pilot whales have died stranded in mysterious circumstances on the south-western coast of Iceland, emergency services said on Saturday, only two weeks after a similarly unexplained mass stranding had already killed dozens of the long-finned cetaceans.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:21 UTC
Falklands' genetically improved wool clip reflects a significant increase in value

The value of the Falkland Islands wool clip has increased by around 11% over the past six years, or £1 million at today’s wool prices announced MLA Teslyn Barkman at the most recent meeting of Legislative Assembly.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:15 UTC
Paraguayan VP claims only half truths became known about obscure Itaipu deal

Paraguay's Vicepresident Hugo Velázquez said that so far only half truths regarding the somber deal with Brazil about the sale of electricity are known to the public. The affair has left the government of President Mario Abdo on the brink of collapse despite having dodged impeachment before the Senate this past week.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:07 UTC
Telefonica Brazil and three sub contractors responsible of engaging slave labor

Leading mobile company Telefonica Brasil and three firms in its supply chain have been found guilty of engaging in slave labor, authorities said this week. A panel of labor judges in Espirito Santo state ruled that Telefonica, publicly traded as Vivo in Brazil, was guilty after workers toiled in slavery-like conditions during the building of a cellphone tower in 2014.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:01 UTC
Trump warns UK: drop tax proposal on US tech companies or forget a free trade deal

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has told Britain it will not get a free trade deal unless it drops a new tax proposal for major U.S. tech companies, the Telegraph newspaper reported late on Friday.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
Arctic buoy with yearlong Beluga recordings salvaged by Swedish icebreaker

A year-long recording of the high-pitched clicks made by Beluga whales has been salvaged from the Arctic after the crew of a Swedish icebreaker chanced upon a research buoy adrift in hazardous pack ice.
Monday, August 5th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
HSBC CEO steps down, “by mutual agreement”; search for a replacement has started

The chief executive of HSBC has stepped down after the bank said it needed a change in leadership to address a “challenging global environment”. John Flint is giving up the role he has held for a year and a half “by mutual agreement with the board”.