Stories for January 2020

Friday, January 17th 2020 - 10:32 UTC
Brazil steps out from Celac, because of its failure “to protect democracy”

Brazil has decided to suspend its participation in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, a leftist regional body established by Venezuela, due to its failure to protect democracy, Brazil's foreign minister said on Thursday.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 10:31 UTC
Morales backtracks on intention of creating armed civilian militias as in Venezuela if he returns to Bolivia

Exiled former Bolivian president Evo Morales backtracked on Thursday from a vow to create armed civilian militias similar to notorious 'colectivos' in Venezuela, were he to be allowed back to his homeland.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 10:30 UTC
Another victory for Trump: US Senate passes overwhelmingly the North American trade pact

The US Senate on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to approve a new North American trade pact, handing President Donald Trump a second back-to-back trade win just as his impeachment trial was beginning in Washington. After a brief debate, lawmakers voted 89-10 in favor of a bill allowing the US-Mexico-Canada agreement to take effect, overhauling trade relations among the three countries.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 10:29 UTC
Wall Street stocks at fresh records after approval of North American trade pact

Wall Street stocks surged to fresh records on Thursday after the US Senate approved a new North American trade pact, adding to the momentum from the US-China trade deal. All three major indices finished at all-time highs, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 267.42 points (0.92%) at 29,297.64.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 10:23 UTC
Google-parent Alphabet reaches plus US$ 1 trillion market value: time to cash on the extraordinary gains?

As Google-parent Alphabet became on Thursday the fourth US company to top a market value of more than US$1 trillion, some funds holding its shares are wondering whether now is the time to cash in on the stock's extraordinary gains.
Friday, January 17th 2020 - 10:23 UTC
Tourists accused of damaging Machu Picchu deported to Bolivia and barred from Peru for 15 years

Five tourists accused of damaging Peru's iconic Machu Picchu site were deported to Bolivia on Thursday and barred from returning to the country for 15 years, police and immigration officials said.
Thursday, January 16th 2020 - 19:15 UTC
Brazilian Antarctica base reopened from its ashes after eight years

Brazil Wednesday reopened its scientific Comandante Ferraz base in Antarctica, which had been destroyed in a fire in 2012. In the incident two soldiers died and more than two thirds of the facilities were destroyed.
Thursday, January 16th 2020 - 08:59 UTC
Ex cabinet minister proposes Gibraltar and Falklands should have elected MPs to Parliament after Brexit

A former Cabinet Office minister said British overseas territories such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands should be able to elect MPs to Parliament after Brexit. John Penrose wants the 14 overseas territories, which include the renowned tax-havens the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, to be able to negotiate devolution arrangements similar to that enjoyed by all four countries within the UK, and also elect MPs to Westminster.
Thursday, January 16th 2020 - 08:58 UTC
Bolivia interim government asks Argentina to disavow comments from ex president Evo Morales

Bolivia’s Foreign Ministry has asked Argentina’s government to disavow comments by Bolivian former President Evo Morales, currently living in exile in Buenos Aires that called for the organization of armed militias in his home country.
Thursday, January 16th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
HMS Scott honors HMS Antelope sunk in the Falklands' Sound

On a grey midsummer day in the Southern Hemisphere, the crew of HMS Scott pause for reflection over one of the Navy’s most hallowed sites. Ten meters below this spot, sitting upright, almost snapped in two, is the shattered hull of frigate HMS Antelope, torn apart by a series of explosions after bomb disposal experts triggered an unexploded device, in turn detonating the ship’s magazine.