Stories for November 26th 2016

Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 13:44 UTC
Whole world -even Palestinians- helps Israel fight fires gone beyond control

Palestinian firefighters and trucks and firefighting aircraft from Turkey, Greece, Croatia and Russia joined the operation to put down the flames. For four days, Israel has fought in its entire territory dozens of fires that spread thanks to a great drought and strong winds.
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 13:36 UTC
IDB US$ 60m loan to expand sewage and rainwater drainage in Montevideo

Uruguay will expand sewage and rainwater drainage systems in Montevideo and improve management of City Hall's sanitation system thanks to a US$60 million loan approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The money represents the second stage of a line of credit that the IDB approved for investment projects in December 2006.
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 13:23 UTC
Temer administration further weakened by more corruption claims: calls for impeachment

A Brazilian minister resigned on Friday amid allegations that he enlisted President Michel Temer's help to pressure a fellow Cabinet member to approve a luxury apartment development project in a preservation zone. The announcement feeds a growing scandal over alleged misuse of power that threatens Temer's presidency only six months after he replaced a predecessor ousted from office by Congress — and at a time corruption investigations have tarred many senior politicians.
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 12:43 UTC
BP buys into Egypt's super giant Zohr gas field, the largest in the Mediterranean

BP announced on Friday that it has agreed to buy from Eni a 10% interest in the Shorouk concession offshore Egypt, which contains the super-giant Zohr gas field, for US$375 million. On closing, BP will also reimburse Eni for BP's share of past expenditure. As part of the agreement, BP also has an option before the end of 2017 to buy a further 5% interest in the concession under the same terms.
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 12:18 UTC
Switzerland has returned US$ 2bn of illicit funds stashed in its banks by dictators

With a new law to help seize and repatriate illicit wealth stashed in Swiss banks by foreign dictators and a positive – but slow - track record, Switzerland is a leader in the return of illicit dictator funds, a top Swiss official claims. Over the past 30 years Switzerland has returned almost US$ 2 billion misappropriated and deposited in Swiss banks by “politically exposed persons” (PEPs).
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 12:05 UTC
Shame on the USS Navy state of the art missile destroyer breaks down in Panama canal and has to be towed

The most expensive destroyer ever built for the United States Navy has suffered an engineering problem in the Panama Canal and had to be towed to port. U.S. The 3rd Fleet spokesman Commander Ryan Perry says a vice admiral has directed the USS Zumwalt to remain at ex-Naval Station Rodman in Panama to address the issues. The ship was built at Bath Iron Works in Maine.
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 11:46 UTC
Trump names experienced heavyweights in national security and White House counsel

President-elect Donald Trump named KT McFarland as deputy national security adviser and Donald McGahn as his White House counsel. McFarland served in three separate Republican administrations, most notably as a spokeswoman for Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger under Ronald Reagan.
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 11:26 UTC
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

By UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon - At long last, there is growing global recognition that violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, public health pandemic and serious obstacle to sustainable development. Yet there is still much more we can and must do to turn this awareness into meaningful prevention and response.
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 11:01 UTC
Cristina Fernandez summoned to court in Buenos Aires: law enforcement will act if she refuses to comply

Argentina's ex president Cristina Fernandez has been ordered to court next Tuesday by federal magistrate Claudio Bonadio, and warned that should she not abide she will be taken by public force to comply with the registry of finger prints and undergo a socio-environment report. The decision refers to the dollar futures case for which the ex president has been indicted.
Saturday, November 26th 2016 - 09:52 UTC
Fidel Castro has died at the age of 90; hero and bastard, revolutionary and dictator

Fidel Castro, the fiery communist politician and Cuban revolutionary who led his country for almost half a century, has died. His health had been deteriorating since 2006, when he suffered from intestinal bleeding. He was 90 years old.