Stories for December 2019

Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 08:50 UTC
Bloomberg opens campaign offices in three crucial swing states

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire media mogul who is seeking the Democratic nomination for US president, on Saturday opened campaign offices in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, three battleground states crucial in next's year election.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 08:40 UTC
Bolsonaro back steps after telling a journalist he had “the face of a homosexual”

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Saturday that it was wrong for him to tell a journalist a day earlier that he had “the face of a homosexual.”
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 08:40 UTC
Bank of England leaves interest rates on hold, but ready to cut over global and Brexit uncertainties

The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold at 0.75% but indicated it may cut the cost of borrowing if global economic growth fails to recover or Brexit uncertainties persist. It said the UK economy was expected to pick up from its current weakness.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 08:35 UTC
French fashion designer Emanuel Ungaro has died in Paris aged 86

Ungaro was the son of Italian immigrants who trained under Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga. He founded his fashion house in the 1960s and described himself as a “sensual obsessive” - with a reputation for bold colors and prints.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 07:33 UTC
Spain's “El Gordo” lottery paid more than €2 billion in lucky numbers prizes

Winners of Spain's “El Gordo” lottery were celebrating on Sunday after more than €2 billion were paid out as the lucky numbers were announced live on national television.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 11:07 UTC
Argentina appoints team for talks with creditors to renegotiate massive sovereign debt

Argentina appointed a government team to kick off talks with creditors to renegotiate about US$100 billion in sovereign debt as the new center-left administration of President Alberto Fernandez postponed payments on some of its short-term debt.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 11:06 UTC
Falklands, UK forces and South Georgia: The search for the Chilean aircraft continues

The Search and Rescue operation of the Chilean Air Force’s C-130, that made full use of assets and personnel available of the Falkland Islands Government (FIG), the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) and the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), continues along with the Chile’s search command, according to a joint statement released on Friday:
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 11:05 UTC
Maduro trying to block Guaido's re-election; US anticipates further sanctions

The United States on Friday promised further sanctions to pressure Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of bribing lawmakers to block the re-election of his opponent Juan Guaido.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 11:03 UTC
Argentina's credit rating downgraded to near-default by Fitch and S&P

Argentina’s credit rating was downgraded to near-default status by two of the biggest global rating companies, Fitch Ratings, and S&P Global after the government said it would delay payments on its short term dollar-denominated local debt.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 11:03 UTC
Australia: “catastrophic” conditions in Greater Sydney surrounded by a ring of fire

Firefighters in the Australian state of New South Wales were bracing for “catastrophic” fire conditions on Saturday as temperatures well above 40 degrees Celsius and strong winds were set to fuel more than 100 fires burning across the state.