Funding virtual reality

  Argentina's new President Alberto Fernandez flashes the victory sign during the inauguration ceremony at Plaza de Mayo square in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. —AFP/VNA Photo BUENOS AIRES — Centre-leftist Alberto Fernandez vowed to put his people first ahead of debt repayments after he was sworn in as Argentina's president on Tuesday to singing and applause from lawmakers and supporters. After taking over from the market-friendly Mauricio Macri, Fernandez sent a message to the International Monetary Fund, saying "it's impossible to pay external debt without growth." Fernandez, whose vice president is controversial former leader Cristina Kirchner, will preside over a country beset by recession, high inflation, rising unemployment and poverty. While the South American country wants to pay back its debt, it doesn't have "the means to do so," he said, promising to deal with Argentina's social emergency. Fernandez was swept to power in large part due to a public backlash over … [Read more...] about New president vows to put Argentines before debt repayments

  Representatives from the three countries sign the deal. — AFP/VNA Photo MEXICO CITY — The United States, Mexico and Canada signed a deal on Tuesday to finalise their new trade agreement, paving the way to ratification after more than two years of arduous negotiations. However, the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the US Senate would likely delay Congressional ratification of the agreement until next year, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In reality, it is the second time the three countries have triumphantly announced the conclusion of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the deal meant to replace the 25-year-old NAFTA, which President Donald Trump complains has been "a disaster" for the US. First signed in November 2018, USMCA got bogged down in political complications, particularly in the US, where opposition Democrats questioned whether it would really force Mexico to deliver on labor reforms meant to level the playing field between … [Read more...] about US, Mexico, Canada finalise trade deal