Stories for 2019

Wednesday, August 7th 2019 - 08:44 UTC
Sino/US clash eases: Beijing supports Yuan and Washington pledges to continue trade talks

Asian shares steadied slightly on Wednesday as investors caught their breath from a searing week-long selloff, with steps taken by Chinese authorities to contain a sliding Yuan helping calm fears of a full-blown Sino-U.S. trade and currency war.
Wednesday, August 7th 2019 - 08:44 UTC
North Korea with cyber attacks stole US$ 2bn to fund its weapons programs, UN report

North Korea has stolen US$ 2bn to fund its weapons program using cyber-attacks, a leaked United Nations report says. The confidential report says Pyongyang has targeted banks and crypto-currency exchanges to collect cash.
Wednesday, August 7th 2019 - 08:30 UTC
Brazilian police in major operation against the country's most powerful gang

Brazilian police on Tuesday carried out a major operation against the First Capital Command (PCC) gang, in the latest attempt to try to hobble the country’s most powerful and sophisticated organized crime group.
Wednesday, August 7th 2019 - 08:20 UTC
Brazilian drug dealer who failed in attempt to escape dressed as his daughter, found dead in his cell

Prison authorities in Brazil have found convicted drug dealer Clauvino da Silva dead in his cell, three days after an elaborate escape was foiled. Prison officials said it appeared that Silva had hanged himself.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 12:55 UTC
No end in Brazil to controversy, while deforestation continues: 67% increase over the same period last year

Deforestation in Brazil's rainforest has jumped around 67% in the first seven months of the year, according to preliminary data from Brazil's space research agency, which the government has attacked as misleading and harmful to the national interest.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:30 UTC
The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt stretches 5.592 miles, fed with rich nutrients from farms along the Amazon river

Slimy, stinky brown seaweed that ruins beachgoers' vacations from Mexico to Florida may be the new normal unless Brazil halts Amazon deforestation, experts say. The culprit, called sargassum, turns clear-blue seawater a murky brown and smells like rotten eggs when it washes ashore and starts to rot.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:20 UTC
Trump blocks all assets of the Venezuelan government in US

Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order “Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela.”
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:10 UTC
Colorado Party of Paraguay urges lawmakers and supporters to stand behind President Abdo

Paraguay's Colorado Party Monday backed its support of President Mario Abdo in the aftermath of the political scandal sparked last week when the somber Itaipu electricity deal with Brazil was unearthed, leaving the government on the brink of impeachment, a threat which has been averted.... for now.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:08 UTC
Uruguay joins Venezuela, recommends travellers visiting US to take extreme precautions because of violence and hate crimes

After the weekend shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, which left more than 31 dead, Uruguay followed on Monday Venezuela and warned their citizens to exercise caution when traveling in the United States.
Tuesday, August 6th 2019 - 10:05 UTC
Two priests and a gardener on trial in Argentine for sexually abusing deaf children

Two priests and a gardener appeared in court on Monday to face charges of sexually abusing deaf children in their care, in a case that has sent shockwaves through Argentina's Catholic church.