International

• Friday, August 7th 2020 - 08:30 UTC

  Cruise Lines lobby voluntarily suspends operations until al least 31 October

  

  Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, announced this week that its ocean-going cruise line members have agreed to voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations until at least 31 October 2020.

• Friday, August 7th 2020 - 08:27 UTC

  Macron pledges aid to Lebanon conditioned to anti-corruption reforms

  

  French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday promised aid to Lebanon but reassured angry citizens reeling from a lethal blast that killed at least 145 people that no blank checks will be given to its leaders unless they enact reforms and end rife corruption.

• Friday, August 7th 2020 - 08:24 UTC

  UK Dames diplomacy in New York and Washington

  

  United Kingdom has named Dame Barbara Woodward as its permanent representative to the United Nations, its most senior diplomat to the New York-based body. Dame Barbara, currently British ambassador to China, is a previous international director of UK Border Force.

• Thursday, August 6th 2020 - 09:50 UTC

  C24 calls on UK and Argentina to resume sovereignty talks on South Atlantic islands

  

  The United Nations Decolonization Committee, or C24, unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday calling on the UK and Argentina to resume negotiations, so that in the shortest time possible a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty controversy over the Falkllands, South Georgia, South Sandwich islands and adjoining maritime spaces.

• Thursday, August 6th 2020 - 09:30 UTC

  The Americas suffering disruptions in regular health services caused by Covid-19

  

  Health services are being disrupted in countries of the Americas as health workers are redirected to care for COVID-19 patients, people hesitate to seek routine care due to fears of infection, and global supply chains of medicines and equipment are strained said Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

• Thursday, August 6th 2020 - 09:26 UTC

  Brazil doubled oil exports during July

  

  Brazilian oil exports more than doubled in July to 8.19 million tons, compared to 3.76 million tons shipped in July 2019, according to data released by the Foreign Trade Secretariat, Secex.

• Thursday, August 6th 2020 - 09:21 UTC

  Destruction of Beirut port silos leaves Lebanon with only a month of wheat

  

  Lebanon’s main grain silo at Beirut port was destroyed in a blast, leaving the nation with less than a month’s reserves of the grain but enough flour to avoid a crisis, the economy minister said on Wednesday.

• Thursday, August 6th 2020 - 09:20 UTC

  Hiroshima remembers the 75th anniversary of the first atomic bomb

  

  Bells tolled in Hiroshima on Thursday for the 75th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing, with ceremonies downsized due to the novel coronavirus and the mayor urging nations to reject selfish nationalism and unite to fight all threats.

• Thursday, August 6th 2020 - 08:59 UTC

  Beirut blast point to years on inaction and negligence over storage of explosives

  

  Initial investigations into the Beirut port blast indicate years of inaction and negligence over the storage of highly explosive material caused the explosion that killed more than 150 people, injured thousands and left 300,000 homeless, an official source revealed

• Wednesday, August 5th 2020 - 08:56 UTC

  Argentina reaches an agreement with majority of creditors and looks to convince the undecided

  

  Argentina has reached an agreement with creditors to restructure around US$ 65 billion in sovereign debt, breaking a deadlock in talks that will help the country climb out of default and banish fears of a damaging and protracted legal standoff.