Stories for 2019

Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 09:24 UTC
Dozens of tourists victims of mass robbery when climbing the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio

Dozens of tourists hiking toward the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro were held at gunpoint for up to two hours in a mass robbery that could mark an early test for anti-crime crackdowns promised by Brazil’s new president.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 09:22 UTC
Troops sent to contain violence in northeast Brazil: criminal gangs challenging Bolsonaro?

Brazil's government ordered troops to the northeast of the country on Friday to contain violence by criminal groups in the first test of new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's hard-line law-and-order platform.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 09:06 UTC
Major “live test” in South England on Monday in the event of a no-deal Brexit

The British Government is to use up to 150 trucks in a major test of its plans for UK border disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit. A “live test” on Monday will examine the proposal to use Manston airfield near Ramsgate as a mass “HGV holding facility” to alleviate congestion on the roads to the Channel ports, the Department for Transport has confirmed.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 08:59 UTC
New Brazilian administration prepared to open concentrated banking to foreign competition

The fast pace of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro continued on Friday, with current central bank Governor Ilan Goldfajn telling newspaper Valor Economico that the new administration is likely to empower the central bank to approve the entrance of new foreign lenders into Brazil.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 08:54 UTC
Markets disappointed with Bolsonaro's watered down pensions reform

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday called for minimum retirement ages significantly lower than those proposed by his predecessor, sparking concerns among investors that he will back watered-down pension reform legislation.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 08:50 UTC
Grassroots conservatives want PM May's Brexit deal ditched, according to survey

More than half of grassroots Conservative members want Theresa May’s Brexit deal to be ditched in favour of no deal, a survey has found. About 57% of the rank and file are convinced that leaving the EU without a deal is better than their own leader’s Brexit plan, according to a poll funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 08:48 UTC
North Irish couple plan to share their £115m EuroMillions win with 50 people

A couple from Northern Ireland have made a list of 50 people with whom they intend to share their £115m EuroMillions win. Frances and Patrick Connolly, who live in Moira, County Down, matched the winning numbers in the New Year's Day draw. It is the fourth biggest UK EuroMillions win and the biggest in NI.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 08:42 UTC
US delegation to hold trade talks in China on January 7/8, revealed Beijing

A US delegation will visit China next week for talks aimed at defusing the trade war between the world's two largest economies. The closely watched meeting follows a dismal week for US markets, with losses fuelled partly by trade fears.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 08:40 UTC
Fed brings relief to markets saying it would be “patient” about rate hikes

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome “Jay” Powell took steps to reassure financial markets on Friday, saying that the US central bank would be “patient” about rate rises. He also defended his independence, saying he would not resign if requested by US President Donald Trump.
Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 08:34 UTC
US economy ever so strong: 312.000 jobs added in December

The US economy created many more jobs than expected in December, according to the latest government data. Employers added 312,000 jobs, far ahead of predictions of 177,000, the Labor Department said.