International

Wednesday, December 26th 2018 - 09:06 UTC
Abdicating Emperor Akihito underlines his reign has seen “Japan free of war”

Japan’s Emperor Akihito, marking his 85th birthday — his last before his upcoming abdication — said he feels relieved that his reign is coming to an end without having seen his country at war and that it is important to keep telling younger people about his nation’s wartime history.
Wednesday, December 26th 2018 - 09:03 UTC
Busy Christmas: UK rescues illegal immigrants in the English Channel

Forty migrants, including two children, have been rescued from boats in five separate incidents on Christmas Day in the English Channel. Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter intercepted a boat carrying 12 people and a child off the coast of Deal, Kent, at about 04:30 GMT. And a girl was one of eight who arrived in Folkestone at about 02:40 GMT.
Wednesday, December 26th 2018 - 08:59 UTC
RBS applies for a banking license in Germany; the bank already has on in the Netherlands

The Royal Bank of Scotland has applied for a German banking license to help it retain clients in the European Union in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The move applies to all its subsidiaries, but would only affect NatWest, which trades across the bloc.
Wednesday, December 26th 2018 - 08:53 UTC
Bolsonaro after Israel technology to water the parched northeast

Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday said he wants an agreement with Israel to build desalination plants in the parched north where droughts are frequent. In a message on Twitter, Bolsonaro, who is to take office on Jan. 1, said his appointed Science and Technology Minister Marcos Pontes will travel to Tel Aviv in January to meet with his Israeli counterpart over the matter.
Wednesday, December 26th 2018 - 08:45 UTC
Japan withdraws from the Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunting

Japan will withdraw from the International Whaling Commission in 2019 to pave the way for the resumption of commercial whaling for the first time in about three decades, the government said on Wednesday, a decision likely to draw international condemnation.
Wednesday, December 26th 2018 - 07:05 UTC
Pope calls for peace and fraternity in his Urbi e Orbi address

The Pope has used his annual Christmas message to appeal for peace in conflict zones including Yemen and Syria. The two countries have both been ravaged by civil war for years, pushing their people into humanitarian crises. Francis also called for political reconciliation in Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Wednesday, December 26th 2018 - 06:51 UTC
Market analyst views Argentina, Brazil on path to recovery in 2019

Argentina, Brazil and India lead the prospects of an economic recovery, according to Michael Hasenstab of Templeton Global Bond Fund Management.
Monday, December 24th 2018 - 14:24 UTC
Venezuelan Navy repels oil exploring ship, triggers international diplomatic conflict with Guyana

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza has demanded that Guyana respect its sovereignty after two ships of the transnational company ExxonMobil were repelled Saturday from what the Bolivarian Navy deemed to be their country's waters. But both the governments of the United States and of Guyana claim it was Venezuela who was in breach of international law.
Monday, December 24th 2018 - 09:50 UTC
Merry Christmas from MercoPress

MercoPress wishes a Happy Holiday Season to all its readers and sponsors!
Monday, December 24th 2018 - 09:30 UTC
Hundreds killed and injured after tsunami hits Indonesian coastal towns

At least 220 people have been killed and 843 injured after a tsunami hit coastal towns on Indonesia's Sunda Strait government officials say. There was no warning of the giant waves which struck at Saturday night, destroying hundreds of buildings, sweeping away cars and uprooting trees.