Stories for 2020

Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:49 UTC
Brazil after other markets if US and China agree on farm deal, mainly soybeans

Brazil could lose some recent gains it made in the global soy market during the US-China trade war if those two countries reach a deal to end their dispute, a Brazilian Agriculture Ministry official said on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:45 UTC
Walmart confirms it is the largest retailer in Mexico; last year it opened 134 new stores

Walmart last year launched its biggest expansion in Mexico since 2013, opening 134 new stores in its top foreign market and boosting its presence by nearly five percent, the retailer said on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Pope Francis kisses nun, as long “as you stay calm and don't bite”

Pope Francis, who last month angrily slapped the hand of a woman who yanked him towards her, gave a light-hearted reaction more typical of his papacy on Wednesday when a nun asked him for a kiss. He said yes, although only after she promised not to bite him.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:22 UTC
WHO growing concern with a possible new coronavirus outbreak in China

A cluster of more than 50 pneumonia cases in the central Chinese city of Wuhan may be due to a newly emerging member of the family of viruses that caused the deadly SARS and MERS outbreaks, World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:17 UTC
US has reestablished some deterrence toward Iran, Pentagon chief

United States Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Wednesday that the United States has reestablished some deterrence toward Iran in the wake of the Jan 3 drone strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:11 UTC
Teheran says it has full respect for the independence and sovereignty of Iraq

Iran said on Wednesday it respects Iraq's territorial integrity, after firing missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops. The early Wednesday strike led Iraq to say it would summon the Iranian ambassador.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 08:52 UTC
Brazil anticipates record 2019/20 oilseed and grains crop: some 250 million tons

Brazil's 2019-20 crop of grains and oilseeds is expected to reach a record of nearly 250 million metric tons, mainly driven by a sharp recovery in soybean production, even as inclement weather in southern regions of the country is raising concerns about the corn crop.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 08:48 UTC
Something smells rotten in Maputo: Russian bank suing Mozambique over US$ 2bn in loans

Russian bank VTB is suing a Mozambique state-owned company over US$ 535 million it extended as part a series of loans now at the centre of a US$ 2 billion debt scandal. An online court filing dated Dec. 23 shows VTB has lodged a lawsuit in Britain’s High court against the Mozambique state and Mozambique Asset Management, which borrowed the money from VTB as part of a costly project that U.S. authorities say was an elaborate front for a bribery and kickback scheme.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 08:35 UTC
World Bank forecasts global expansion of 2.5% in 2020, but there are also too many uncertainties

Global economic growth is likely to be only slightly faster this year than the weak 0performance seen in 2019, according to a World Bank forecast. The world economy is likely to expand by 2.5% in 2020, up from 2.4% last year, the Bank's economists predict.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 07:00 UTC
“Bumpy” start for the Royals: Harry and Meghan want to spend most time in the US; Buckingham not convinced

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released a statement saying they intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family. Here's that statement in full: