Politics

Friday, February 7th 2020 - 09:46 UTC
China halves punitive tariffs on US$ 75 billion of US imports next week

China said on Thursday it will halve punitive tariffs on US$75 billion in US imports from Feb 14, a month after Beijing and Washington signed a truce in their long-running trade war.
Friday, February 7th 2020 - 09:45 UTC
UK expanding fisheries protection to police territorial waters in a no-Brexit trade-deal scenario

The British government is hiring additional ships for the Royal Navy amid growing Brexit tensions - with reports as many as 24 extra boats could be drafted into service. The Times reports that “Ministers are getting ready to triple the number of boats in Britain’s fisheries protection squadron to police territorial waters in the event of a no-trade-deal Brexit”.
Friday, February 7th 2020 - 09:39 UTC
Fishing subsidies battle at WTO speared by the US

The United States said on Thursday it was pushing hard for the World Trade Organization to reach agreement on cutting fishing subsidies in coming months and viewed those talks as a test of whether the global body can still achieve multilateral deals.
Friday, February 7th 2020 - 09:37 UTC
Brazil approves quarantine rules for nationals returning from China

Brazil's lower house of Congress late approved a bill laying out rules for the quarantine of Brazilian nationals returning from China who may be infected with coronavirus, as well as other measures to combat the disease. The measures will be in force as long as the public health emergency declared by the World Health Organization is in place.
Friday, February 7th 2020 - 09:35 UTC
Brazilian higher court for labor rules in favor of Uber: no employment relation between the company and drivers

A Brazilian higher court for labour ruled this week that there was no employment relationship between Uber and its drivers, siding with the ride-hailing company against a Sao Paulo driver. The federal judge in Brasilia ruled against recognizing an employer-employee link, arguing that Uber drivers can disconnect at any time from the app and have a flexible work schedule.
Friday, February 7th 2020 - 09:14 UTC
“Repentant” Popeye, Colombian Escobar's most notorious hit man dies at age 57

Pablo Escobar’s most notorious hit man, known by the nickname Popeye, died on Thursday at age 57 after a life of crime he celebrated on YouTube, Colombia’s prison authorities said.
Friday, February 7th 2020 - 08:46 UTC
“Trump acquitted” celebration in the White House; the president calls Pelosi and Senator Romney “dishonest and corrupt”

President Donald Trump celebrated his impeachment acquittal on Thursday in a rambling, emotional speech raging against the investigations that have overshadowed his entire administration.
Thursday, February 6th 2020 - 09:10 UTC
Argentine Senate grants full power to the Fernandez administration to restructure foreign debt

Argentina’s Senate voted in favor of a bill on Wednesday that grants power to the government of President Alberto Fernandez to handle a massive debt restructuring of bonds issued in foreign currency.
Thursday, February 6th 2020 - 09:09 UTC
Coronavirus deaths keep climbing; China increasingly isolated by air and sea

The death toll from a new coronavirus in mainland China jumped by 73 to 563 on Thursday, its third consecutive record daily rise, as experts intensified efforts to find a vaccine for a disease that has shut down Chinese cities and forced thousands more into quarantine around the world.
Thursday, February 6th 2020 - 09:05 UTC
Argentina tells IMF it can't continue servicing unsustainable debt

Argentina on Wednesday told the International Monetary Fund that Buenos Aires cannot continue servicing unsustainable debt, as the IMF encouraged it to enact efficient restructuring policies.