Stories for December 16th 2016

Friday, December 16th 2016 - 23:59 UTC
Google, Cuba close deal to improve speed of internet connection

Google and Cuba's state-owned telecommunications company Etecsa signed an agreement to improve the speed of access to Google products on the Internet, which means an improvement in Internet access on the island, where Google first landed in 2014.
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 11:34 UTC
Venezuelan leader calls Macri “coward” and says Argentine ambassador should leave the country

Diosdado Cabello, considered one of the three most powerful persons in Venezuela called Argentine president Mauricio Macri a “coward”, described the Argentine ambassador in Caracas as an “enemy” and suggested that if he had any dignity left he should pack his suitcase and leave Venezuela.
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 10:44 UTC
Bank of England leaves rates unchanged: global outlook has become more fragile

The Bank of England voted unanimously on Thursday to keep the UK's main interest rate at a record low of 0.25%, and anticipated that the next rate move could be in either direction. The last change was a rate cut in August, in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU.
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 10:17 UTC
Falklands Association new chair of the Subcommittee in the Islands

Mark Pollard has stepped into the role of Chair of the Falklands Islands Association Sub-Committee in the Falklands, replacing Gerald Cheek who is standing down from the Post.
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 10:00 UTC
Brexit: UK wants to first discuss status of Britons in Europe and EU citizens in UK

UK Prime Minister Theresa May wants an early deal on what Brexit means for the status of Britons in Europe and EU citizens in the UK, she has told EU leaders. The prime minister's comments came as she updated fellow leaders on the UK's plans for leaving the European Union.
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 09:32 UTC
Obama says Putin was aware of US elections' hacking to favor Trump and anticipates sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin supervised his intelligence agencies' hacking of the U.S. presidential election and turned it from a general attempt to discredit American democracy to an effort to help Donald Trump, three U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 09:02 UTC
Lula faces new corruption charges, but he leads polls for 2018 presidential election

New corruption charges linked to Brazil's massive embezzlement scheme at Petrobras oil company were filed on Thursday against former president Lula da Silva, prosecutors said. A judge will now have to decide whether Lula, whose spokesman called the charges “invented,” should face trial.
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 08:50 UTC
Simulus measures in Brazil to appease recession and Temer's tumbling credibility

Brazilian President Michel Temer on Thursday unveiled a raft of stimulus measures to reduce the debt burden of businesses and consumers struggling with the country's worst recession on record amid growing popular discontent. Although limited in scope, the measures aim to appease Brazilians angry at the deepening recession in Latin America's biggest economy and allegations of corruption against Temer and his closest allies.
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 08:07 UTC
Despite Falklands issue, Argentina interested in bilateral trade agreement with UK

Argentina would be interested in negotiating a bilateral free-trade agreement with the U.K. as it prepares to leave the European Union, potentially turning around harsh relations between the two countries.