Stories for August 2019

Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 09:44 UTC
Hundreds of new fires in the Brazilian Amazon, despite military aircraft dumping water

Hundreds of new fires have flared up in the Amazon in Brazil, data showed on Monday, even as military aircraft dumped water over hard-hit areas and G7 nations pledged to help combat the blazes.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Brazilian women ashamed of their president, Macron replies to Bolsonaro's mock of French First Lady

Brazilian women are probably ashamed of President Jair Bolsonaro, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, hitting back after the Brazilian leader mocked Macron’s wife on Facebook.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
France and US reach a deal on taxing big internet companies

France and the United States have reached a deal to end a standoff over a French tax on big internet companies, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened to hit back with tariff action after France passed a law earlier this year that would impose a 3% tax on revenues earned on digital services in France.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 08:59 UTC
Venezuelan migrants will be provided with a regional vaccination card

Venezuelan migrants will be provided with a regional vaccination card beginning in October, health officials from 10 countries agreed on Monday in an effort to ensure they receive needed vaccines and are not given double doses. More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled an economic and political crisis in their home country that has caused widespread shortages of food and medicine.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 08:30 UTC
Argentine court rejects request to throw out a corruption case against ex president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

An Argentine court rejected on Monday a request from lawyers to throw out a corruption case against former president and current vice-presidential candidate Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 08:18 UTC
Questioned at G7, Trump defends his negotiating style with China: “Sorry it's the way I do it”

Crushing off concerns about global economic instability, US President Donald Trump on Monday defended the way he is trying to squeeze a trade deal out of China, saying it's what worked for him in business.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 07:50 UTC
Leonarod Di Caprio's Earth Alliance donates US$ 5 million to help Amazon indigenous communities

Leonardo Di Caprio's environmental organization is putting US$5m towards helping the Amazon rainforest after the recent surge in fires there. Earth Alliance will give the money to local groups and indigenous communities as they work to protect the Amazon.
Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 07:38 UTC
PM Johnson pledges £10 million to restore Amazon rainforest; UK wants to host 2020 climate change conference

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday pledged £10 million (US$12.3 million) to help restore the Amazon rainforest that has been ravaged by fires, sparking a wave of global concern. The money would be made available immediately to help restore the habitat, including areas that have been hit by the fires, the British government said in a statement released at the G7 summit in the French resort of Biarritz.
Monday, August 26th 2019 - 20:35 UTC
Hamas condemns Paraguay for designating the group as an “international terrorist organization”

In its press statement on the Paraguayan decision, the group said: “This decision runs against international law which ensures peoples’ right to resist the aggression and occupation with all possible means including the armed struggle”
Monday, August 26th 2019 - 20:13 UTC
Record number of fires in the Amazon rainforest coincides with a sharp drop in fines for environment violations

The record number of fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has coincided with a sharp drop in fines for environmental violations, BBC analysis has found. Official data from Brazil's environment agency shows fines from January to 23 August dropped almost a third compared with the same period last year.