Stories for January 17th 2020

Friday, January 17th 2020 - 17:34 UTC
Chinese media warned not to “nitpick” the US/Beijing Phase 1 trade deal

Chinese state media on Thursday warned against any “nitpicking” as Beijing portrayed the Phase 1 trade deal with United States and its new commitments to massive purchases of US goods as a boon for China's economy.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 17:02 UTC
Falklands/South Georgia governments relation mutually beneficial, but MOU “has not been made public”

The relationship between the Falkland Islands Government and South Georgia Government “brings both direct and indirect benefit to the Falklands” assured Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI ) Chief Executive Helen Havercroft.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 16:11 UTC
Amazon deforestation soared 85% in twelve months of 2019, Brazil's Space Research

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil soared 85% in 2019, compared with the previous year, official data showed Tuesday. The 9,166 square kilometers cleared was the highest number in at least five years, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 16:09 UTC
Third person dies of contaminated craft beer in Brazil

A third person has died in Brazil of suspected poisoning from a batch of craft beer contaminated with a toxic chemical used in antifreeze and other products, police in the state of Minas Gerais said on Thursday.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 16:07 UTC
Honduran migrant column heading for US, but Mexico warns it won't let them through

US President Donald Trump has put Mexico and Central American nations under pressure to accept a series of migration agreements that aim to shift the burden of dealing with asylum-seekers on to them, and away from the United States.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 13:49 UTC
Iran wants to avoid war and promotes peace dialogue with the world

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday he wants to avoid war after Tehran and Washington appeared on the brink of direct military confrontation in early January for the second time in less than a year.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 12:28 UTC
Magellanic penguins rookery discovered in Tierra del Fuego remote island

Just in time for Penguin Awareness Day on January 20th, WCS researchers announced the discovery of a new colony of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) on a remote island in Argentina.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 12:03 UTC
Amazon indigenous leaders summit to form alliance against Bolsonaro's environmental policy

Dozens of Amazon indigenous leaders have gathered in the heart of the threatened rainforest to form an alliance against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's environmental policy and his threats to throw their homelands open to mining concerns.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 10:33 UTC
Vatican rejects nominee as Argentine ambassador; Fernandez meets the Pope at the end of the month

The Argentine government has been forced to review the appointment of Luis Bellando as ambassador before the Vatican since his placet was not accepted by the Holy See. “The mechanics of the foreign ministry is to send first the names of diplomatic candidates since the host country must agree with the names proposed, so in this case, we will review the issue and reviews if a new consensus is needed to send another candidate as ambassador or representative to the Vatican”, cabinet chief Santiago Cafiero said.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 10:33 UTC
Historic impeachment trial of Trump opens; Decisive US Senate controlled by Republicans

The historic impeachment trial of Donald Trump opened on Thursday in the US Senate, as lawmakers took a solemn oath to be “impartial” in deciding whether to force the 45th US president from office.