Stories for January 2016

Tuesday, January 5th 2016 - 01:39 UTC
Saudi Arabia breaks diplomatic relations with Iran: row over execution of Shia cleric

Saudi Arabia says it has broken off diplomatic ties with Iran, amid a row over the Saudi execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was speaking after demonstrators had stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 23:58 UTC
Black year for the media: 67 journalists killed in 2015 says RSF

Sixty-seven journalists were killed globally this year, either targeted because of their work or dying while reporting, Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers, RSF, said in its annual report. Some 27 citizen (amateur) journalists and seven media workers were also killed.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 11:16 UTC
Agreement on contract for seafloor sulfide mining project off Papua New Guinea

The world's first seafloor massive sulfide mining project contract has been signed between Nautilus Minerals Inc, a mining company with headquarters in Canada and Tongling Nonferrous metals group, a state owned Chinese company.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 10:30 UTC
Cheering and fearing — can climate deal save Earth?

By Gwynne Dyer -The climate deal that almost 200 countries agreed to in Paris was far better than most insiders dared to hope even one month ago. The biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, China and the United States, are finally on board. There is real money on the table to help poor countries cut their emissions and cope with warming.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 09:38 UTC
How far can the Syria Conflict spiral out of control: Interview with Pelicourt

Business is business, so why not buy oil from ISIS. The Russians claim the Turks are doing it, and in all likelihood even Assad is buying it. No one can fight a war without oil, according to Robert Bensh, partner and managing director of Pelicourt LLC oil and gas company.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 09:27 UTC
Lifestyles have a greater impact on cancer suggest latest findings; likewise they might be more preventable

Earlier this year, researchers sparked a debate by suggesting that random cell mutations, rather than lifestyle choices, played a significant role in the development of tumors, a finding dubbed the “bad luck hypothesis.” A new study has nevertheless led scientists to believe that external influences have a far greater impact, implying that many cancers may be more preventable than previously thought.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 07:39 UTC
Chinese jigger heading for South Atlantic catches fire in Montevideo port

A Chinese jigger flying a convenience flag and ready to leave Montevideo for the South Atlantic fully provisioned suffered a serious fire which apparently started in the engine room and rapidly spread to the rest of the vessel.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 07:20 UTC
Canada opens its market to Argentine boneless fresh and frozen beef after 13 years

Canada finally made official the opening of its market to Argentine boneless beef, both fresh and frozen. This happens after thirteen years of negotiations, according to an end of the year release from the Argentine ministries of foreign affairs and agriculture and livestock, and the Argentine animal sanitary office. The decision became effective last 17 December.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 07:09 UTC
Brazil's Rousseff faces Olympic political and financial challenges this year

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff began the new year on the offensive declaring the impeachment proceedings she faces as “unfair” and overruling by veto more than 50 amendments made by lawmakers to the nation’s budget, including reductions to her flagship Bolsa Familia social program.
Monday, January 4th 2016 - 06:56 UTC
Head of Malvinas Museum, one of Argentina's foremost experts on the issue

Federico Lorenz, considered one of Argentina's foremost experts on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands issue and author of multiple works on their history, will take the reins as the interim director of the Malvinas Islands Museum in the latest in a far-reaching shuffle of key cultural positions in President Mauricio Macri’s new administration.