A strong new earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 rattled New Zealand's South Island on Monday, hours after a more powerful quake killed at least two people, damaged roads and buildings and sent thousands fleeing to higher ground. Emergency response teams were already flying by helicopter to the region at the epicenter of the original 7.8 magnitude quake, which struck just after midnight some 91 km northeast of Christchurch in the South Island, amid reports of injuries and collapsed buildings.
Petrobras will begin selling off huge “pre-salt” oil fields to raise cash for the desperate Brazilian national oil company, according to new legislation passed by Congress. Politicians in the lower house had fought against the bill, but lawmakers succeeded in pushing the bill through during a late-night session, and the vote stood at 251-22 by the end of the night.
McDonald's is suing the city of Florence for €18m after it was blocked from opening a restaurant on one of the Italian city's most historic plazas. The fast-food giant had its plans for an outlet on the Piazza del Duomo rejected by Florence's mayor in June and the decision was upheld in July by a technical panel in charge of preserving the city's ancient heart.
The chair of the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA) Monsignor Jose Maria Arancedo renewed his call to the leadership of the country, political, social, unions and business, to leave aside special interests and act responsibly for the good of the country, at a very difficult moment so that we can all enjoy Christmas in Peace
In 1918 at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the First World War Armistice was signed in a railway carriage stationed in the Forest of Compiègne in Northern France by military personnel representing France, Germany and Britain. Today, 98 years later, that moment was commemorated across the United Kingdom and by the Forces around the world.
Samsung Electronics Co. took out full-page newspaper advertisements in the United States to apologize for its fire-prone Note 7 phones, seeking to restore its battered reputation. The message from the world’s largest smart-phone maker appeared in major publications, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today this week. A representative for the Suwon, South Korea-based company said it hasn’t decided whether to run more ads in other places.
In a colorful opening ceremony in the Legislative Chamber at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, over 60 young participants representing CPA Branches in eight of the nine CPA Regions – Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and Mediterranean; Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic; Canada; India; Pacific – came together for the start of a week long program of events. The Falkland Islands are represented by Jody Aldridge and Gemma Finn.
The UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee adopted this week a consensus decision setting out the conflicting positions of the British and Spanish governments on Gibraltar, and including – for the first time – Britain’s double-lock commitment on sovereignty. The decision was agreed by Britain and Spain despite the starkly contrasting views set out at the last session of the Fourth Committee in October, as reported by the Gibraltar Chronicle.
The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (EOM/OAS) to the general elections in the United States congratulated the winners – especially President-elect Donald Trump – and recognized the civic behavior of the citizens and the officials who participated in the process, in its presentation of the preliminary report on its work, which mentioned the strong points and opportunities for improvement in the process.
The flow of British tourists into Argentina until August this year recorded a seven percent increase when measured against data from 2015. Ten percent rise forecast for 2017, accoring to Argentine Minister of Tourism Gustavo Santos.