Stories for December 2016

Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 16:40 UTC
Dakar takes off Sunday from Paraguay: main challenge six days at 3.000 meters above sea level

Stephane Peterhansel targets a 13th Dakar title next month, describing the grueling 2017 rally as the most intense he has faced and fearing the physical effects of racing at South America's punishing high altitudes. The 51-year-old Frenchman clinched his sixth win on four wheels in this year's event to add to six motorcycle triumphs since his debut back in 1988 when the famed race was still held in Africa.
Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 16:25 UTC
Argentina GDP contracts 3.8% in third quarter: sharp declines in manufacturing and construction

Argentina’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell 3.8% at the end of the third quarter of the year, with sharp declines in manufacturing, construction and consumption, the INDEC official statistics bureau reported.
Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 16:16 UTC
PM May plans to pull out from European Court, sponsors British Bill of Rights

UK Prime Minister Theresa May is considering making plans to pull out of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), a cornerstone of the Conservatives next general election campaign, it has been reported. The Prime Minister is said to have accepted proposals for a British Bill of Rights – originally announced by David Cameron – which will have to be put on hold while the Government deals with Brexit.
Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 15:57 UTC
Brazilian presidency caught red-handed cancels luxurious catering for Força Aérea 01

Following public embarrassment the Brazilian government canceled a tender for the purchase of luxurious food items to supply Michel Temer's presidential airplane with a total value of more than R$ 1.7 million (US$ 520.000).
Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 15:45 UTC
Trump praises Putin for waiting for his inauguration and not reacting to US sanctions

US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for not reacting immediately to Washington's sanctions over alleged interference in his election. ”Great move (...) I always knew he was very smart, ”Trump wrote on Twitter.
Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 15:20 UTC
End of controversy? Venezuela says it has “transferred” the Mercosur chair to Argentina

Venezuela announced on Friday that it had transferred the Mercosur pro tempore chair to Argentina, having ended its “legitimate tenure” of the post, although the rest of the block's members had already complied with the formalities two weeks ago when they also decided to suspend the regime of president Nicolas Maduro.
Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 06:57 UTC
Bolivia to charge tourists an entry tax in 2017

Bolivia will charge a US$ 14.5 dollar entry tax to tourists arriving in the country by airplane. The new measure will become effective once there is an agreement with the private sector on the details, Deputy Tourism Minister Joaquín Rodas said.
Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 06:47 UTC
Different bird flu cases detected throughout Asia as winter conditions worsen

Hong Kong has confirmed a new human case of H7N9 bird flu, while the H5 bird flu virus has been detected in two cats that died in the South Korean city of Pocheon, it was reported on Friday.
Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 06:38 UTC
Death of Greek ambassador to Brazil seemingly a crime of passion arranged by his wife

Greece's ambassador to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis, was assassinated in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro, apparently in a “crime of passion” planned by his wife - of Brazilian origin - and her lover, a military policeman who is suspected of having actually committed the murder, police said this Friday.
Friday, December 30th 2016 - 17:49 UTC
Petrobras sale of assets still US$ 1.5bn short of 2015/16 divestment target

Brazil's oil and gas corporation Petrobras announced this week the sale of ethanol and petrochemicals assets for US$587 million, but said it would still fall US$1.5 billion short of its divestment target for the 2015-2016 period.