International

• Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 10:51 UTC

  Brexit or no Brexit: Boris Johnson asks the Queen to suspend Parliament

  

  The United Kingdom government has asked the Queen to suspend Parliament just days after MPs return to work in September - and only a few weeks before the Brexit deadline.

• Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 10:04 UTC

  Norwegian investment funds warn global agricultural companies linked to Amazon deforestation

  

  The two most sizeable investors in Norway have told global companies to make sure they are not contributing to environmental destruction in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil.

• Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 09:58 UTC

  Canada will continue trade negotiations with Mercosur, despite the current Amazon policy of Brazil

  

  Canada will continue its trade negotiations with Mercosur, the South American trading bloc that includes Brazil, despite demands to call a halt to the talks until more action is taken to protect the Amazon rainforest.

• Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 09:49 UTC

  Falklands' Debbie Summers reelected as New Zealand Cruise Association chairperson

  

  Falkland Islands born New Zealand Executive Director Debbie Summers is entering her fourth year as chairperson of the New Zealand Cruise Association following the seventh annual conference in Auckland August 22-23.

• Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 09:34 UTC

  Bolivian president Morales welcomes the G7 tiny contribution to preserve the Amazon rainforest

  

  Bolivia's president Evo Morales gave a half-hearted welcome on Tuesday to a G7 pledge of US$20 million to fight the Amazon wildfires, describing it as “tiny.” An underwhelmed Morales said the aid from the most industrialized countries was part of the world's “obligation” to preserve the Amazon rainforest.

• Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 09:08 UTC

  First ordained bishop in China following on Beijing and Vatican deal

  

  China has ordained its first bishop since reaching an agreement with the Catholic Church intended to encourage a rapprochement between Beijing and the Holy See. China's roughly 12 million Catholics have for decades been split between a government-run association, whose clergy were chosen by the atheist Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican.

• Wednesday, August 28th 2019 - 08:09 UTC

  Bolsonaro will consider G7 aid for the Amazon if Macron retracts from “insults”

  

  Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he wants French President Emmanuel Macron to retract “insults” against him before he considers accepting aid from the Group of Seven nations who offered US$20 million to help fight forest fires in the Amazon.

• Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 11:47 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil replacing US as main soybean suppliers of China

  

  Amid trade tensions with the US, China's July soybean imports from Argentina increased 328% month on month and 269% year on year to 1.07 million metric tons, according to customs data.

• Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 09:57 UTC

  Brazil rejects G7 aid, and tells Macron to reforest Europe and to look after world heritage sites

  

  Brazil rejected aid from G7 countries to fight wildfires in the Amazon, with a top official telling French President Emmanuel Macron to take care of “his home and his colonies.”

• Tuesday, August 27th 2019 - 09:44 UTC

  G7 summit pledges US$ 20 million for firefighting planes to tackle Amazon blazes

  

  The G7 will give US$20 million (€18 million) to send firefighting planes to tackle the blazes engulfing parts of the Amazon, the presidents of France and Chile said on Monday.