Stories for November 17th 2015

Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 09:32 UTC
Presidential debate with no clear winner which favors Macri, unless there's a 'black swan'

Argentine political analyst Graciela Römer.said there was no clear winner at Sunday's presidential debate between incumbent Daniel Scioli and opposition candidate Mauricio Macri, which nevertheless broke television audience ratings, similar to those of last year's World Cup final between Argentina and Germany.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 09:19 UTC
Rousseff again confirms Levy as (austerity) minister despite complaints from the ruling party

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff jumped to the defense of her embattled finance minister saying she would not be pressured into sacking him. Rousseff, fighting to save her second term presidency from threatened impeachment proceedings, said she was ignoring suggestions by the head of her own Workers' Party (PT) that Joaquim Levy should be dismissed.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 09:07 UTC
Marriott agrees to buy Starwood, making it the largest hotel chain in the world

Marriott International has agreed to buy Starwood Hotels and Resorts in a $12.2 billion deal that will make it the largest hotel chain in the world. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved a merger agreement, Marriott announced this morning. The combined companies will operate or franchise more than 5,500 hotels with 1.1 million rooms worldwide. About 35% of the properties are outside the USA.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 08:54 UTC
Two Chinese nuclear plants for Argentina in a 15bn dollars deal

Argentina signed two nuclear power plant construction deals with China on Sunday worth around US$15 billion, which would add 1,750 megawatts to the energy already produced by the country's three nuclear power plants.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 08:37 UTC
Venezuela claims Maduro's nephews held in the US on cocaine smuggling charges were 'kidnapped'

Two men said to be relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who are being held in the United States on cocaine smuggling charges were “kidnapped,” a senior member of the ruling Socialist Party said on Monday.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 08:18 UTC
Putin claims 40 countries fund ISIS including some members from G20

Russian President Vladimir Putin dropped a bombshell when he alleged that the dreaded Islamic State (ISIS) is being funded by 40 countries including some members of the G20 countries.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 07:55 UTC
G20 leaders in Turkey vow to step up the fight against terrorism

In the wake of the Paris horrific coordinated attacks, leaders from the world's top economies ended on Monday a two-day summit at a resort in Turkey with a vow to step up the fight against terrorism. The attacks that left 132 people dead and hundreds of injured shrouded the nine hours of formal talks that were already set to include discussions of terrorism and a refugee crisis stemming from the mass exodus of people from war-torn Syria.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 07:35 UTC
UEFA confirms the Euro 2016 will remain in France

Euro 2016 will remain in France, UEFA has announced. The country’s hosting of the tournament has come under scrutiny since Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris, which killed 129 people with many more seriously injured. France’s 1958 World Cup star Just Fontaine was one prominent figure to call on the country to give up hosting rights, claiming: “It is simply too dangerous”.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 07:17 UTC
Flags at half-mast on Whitehall as UK observes a minute's silence on Monday

Flags fly at half-mast on Whitehall government buildings as the United Kingdom observed a minute's silence on Monday 16 November 2015. The minute's silence was held across Europe at 11am (UK time), in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the series of terrorist attacks in Paris, France.
Tuesday, November 17th 2015 - 06:41 UTC
Falklands addresses European refugee crisis and possible assistance

Following requests from a number of members of the public to assess the possibility of assisting with the European refugee crisis, the Falkland Islands government, FIG, has reviewed with HMG the options to take part in their resettlement scheme.