International

• Saturday, January 18th 2020 - 08:46 UTC

  IMF warns that the US/China accord is a “trade truce, and not the same as trade peace”

  

  The United States and China still have a long way to go to resolve their trade disputes although the partial deal signed this week is a step forward, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday. “Trade truce is not the same as trade peace,” she said.

• Saturday, January 18th 2020 - 08:44 UTC

  China's economy weakened to its slowest pace in three decades

  China's economy weakened to its slowest pace in three decades last year as weaker domestic demand and trade tensions with the United States took their toll, official data showed on Friday.

• Saturday, January 18th 2020 - 08:41 UTC

  US will screen travelers from Chinese city of Wuhan for symptoms of new respiratory virus

  

  The United States will begin screening efforts at three U.S. airports to detect travelers from the central Chinese city of Wuhan who may have symptoms of a new respiratory virus that so far has killed two people and infected 45 more, public health officials said on Friday (Jan 17).

• Saturday, January 18th 2020 - 08:30 UTC

  Rare 1937 Edward VIII sovereign coin sold for one million pounds

  

  A rare 1937 Edward VIII sovereign coin has been bought by a private collector for 1 million pounds (US$1.31 million), making it the most expensive British coin ever. The coin was one of six prepared by the Royal Mint when Edward became king in 1936 and was due to be mass produced for general circulation from Jan 1, 1937.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - 10:30 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.

• 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.