Stories for December 19th 2016

Monday, December 19th 2016 - 10:13 UTC
US ups reward to $25 million for the capture of ISIS' so-called caliph

The United States raised the previous offer for information on ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The reward is now worth US$ 25 million for information that would help locate, arrest or convict him, it was announced in a statement. In October 2011, the State Department offered $10 million for information on Baghdadi through its Rewards for Justice program.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 09:55 UTC
Maduro backtracks on elimination of 100-bolivar bill as looting erupts

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro reversed his decision to ban from circulation the 100-bolivar bill and gave the notes, which are worth between US$ 0.02 and 0.04 according to varying quotations, a two-week grace. The bills can now be used until January 2, Maduro said.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 09:31 UTC
Russian cyber-attacks: top US Senators from both parties call for a Select Committee

Pressure mounted on Sunday for a broader congressional investigation of Russian cyber-attacks aimed at influencing the United States election, even as President-elect Donald J Trump team says there was no conclusive evidence of foreign interference.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 08:58 UTC
Street protests in California against president-elect Trump and announced policies

A coalition of activist groups took on Sunday the streets of downtown Los Angeles to protest against some of the labor and immigration policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump, a day before he is expected to officially claim victory in the nation’s presidential contest.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 08:50 UTC
China ready to return US submarine drone: Trump accuses Beijing of “stealing”, tells them, “keep it!”

China says it will hand over an underwater U.S. drone it seized in the international waters of the South China Sea, prompting President-elect Donald Trump to say the United States should tell China to keep the device. Trump does not assume power for another month, but weighed in on the maritime incident in which Chinese naval forces seized the unmanned submersible while it was collecting unclassified scientific data on Thursday.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 08:28 UTC
A bus to tour Buenos Aires' football stadiums starts operating Monday at no cost

A bus tour of Buenos Aires focused solely on its most traditional football stadiums will be available starting Monday, the city's Tourism Authority announced. Under the name of “Barrios Futboleros” (Football Neighbourhoods) the new service will make stops at Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo, Huracán and Argentinos Juniors.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 08:22 UTC
Cuban dissidents still under Raul Castro's iron fist despite alleged openness

Government officials have arrested dozens of Cuban dissidents as well as an American human rights lawyer, it was reported Sunday. Others were kept from marching in Havana to demand the relaease of political prisoners in what would indicate that the one-party communist state is in no mood for dissent, despite all that was said to US President Barack Obama and Pope Francis.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 08:04 UTC
Another major clash between Brazil's Supreme Court and Congress in the making

Another major clash between Brazil's Supreme Court and Congress in the making. Justice Luiz Fux ruled to return the anti-corruption bill back to its initial stages in the Lower House, despite the fact the fill had already reached Senate and was preparing to put the bill to a vote.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 07:42 UTC
US Electoral College 538 ballots set to confirm Trump as president despite controversial campaign

The next chapter in the tumultuous U.S. presidential election takes place on Monday at the Electoral College which is expected to officially confirm that billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump as the US 45th president.