Stories for August 2016

Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 23:08 UTC
“Double-lock” commitment for Gibraltar ensures UK minister for Europe

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has met with the new Minister for Europe, Sir Alan Duncan, in London, where he set out the concerns that Brexit has created in the Rock. Mr. Picardo also outlined the opportunities that could now be exploited as a result of a new relationship with the EU.
Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 22:59 UTC
FAO Price Index reports modest decline in July as grains and vegetable oils drop

The international prices for major food commodities saw a modest decline in July, following five consecutive months of increases. The FAO Food Pice Index (FPI) averaged 161.9 points in July 2016, slipping 0.8 percent (1.3 points) below its level in June and 1.4 percent below its level of July 2015.
Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 22:09 UTC
RMS St Helena schedule extended another year until airport is ready for commercial flights

RMS St. Helena, one of the last Royal Mail Ships in the world is to continue serving her remote South Atlantic island namesake until 1 July 2017, the St Helena Government has announced. The RMS passenger and freight service will continue to operate between Cape Town, St Helena and Ascension Island with the extended schedule confirmed by the island's director of tourism.
Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 22:02 UTC
Petrobras corruption case nets another company, senior executives and politicians

Brazil’s federal police said they had arrested two people and raided properties over alleged corruption at building firm Queiroz Galvão, as fresh allegations linked the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) to an alleged US$3-million bribe. The sprawling “Operation Carwash” investigation was launched two years ago to tackle price fixing, bribery and political kickbacks at state-run oil firm Petrobras.
Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 21:52 UTC
Venezuela defies Mercosur members and announces it will “fully exercise the presidency”

Venezuela has defiantly confirmed that is will fully exercise the “self-proclaimed” presidency of Mercosur, despite the opposition from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, who consider the chair vacant and are meeting in Montevideo to find an alternative for the six month mandate.
Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 07:24 UTC
Brazilian caipirinha: Rousseff impeachment and Olympics take off this week

Brazil's long-running presidential impeachment drama starts to unveil this week just as the Rio Olympics sprints out of the starting blocks. Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is accused of breaking budgetary laws, is staying away from the opening ceremony in Rio.
Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 07:12 UTC
US 'Dream team' rented cruise liner “Silver Cloud” as their Olympic Village

Multi-millionaire members of the US Olympic basketball team have rented a massive luxury cruise ship to call their home while they compete at the Rio Olympics. Super rich members of the 'Dream Team' are shirking the nightmare of the Olympic Village, still undergoing finishing touches in some areas and likely to remain “under construction” throughout the games in others. Members of the women's team are also reported to be calling the cruise ship home.
Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 06:58 UTC
Rio Games opening tailored to the current economic conditions in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro Olympics opening ceremony on Friday will break with the recent tradition of large-scale and expensive shows, featuring a low-emissions cauldron and an “analogue” experience, executive producer Marco Balich said.
Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 06:10 UTC
Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay consider Mercosur chair 'vacant' and call for urgent meeting

Mercosur's disarray and fault lines were again exposed when Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay insisted that Venezuela's self proclamation as president of the group was invalid, and also expressed disappointment with Uruguay for having ended its mandate last Saturday causing “great uncertainty”.
Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 06:02 UTC
Venezuela rejects call for Mercosur meeting and claims a conspiracy against Bolivarianism

Venezuela rejected Argentina's call for an urgent Mercosur meeting and underlined it is exercising the group's pro tempore presidency “legally” accusing Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay of being part of a Triple Alliance which is re-editing “a sort of Plan Condor against Venezuela to harass and criminalize its model of development and democracy”.