Stories for December 20th 2016

Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 09:01 UTC
Macri to undergo microsurgery in vocal chords

Argentine president Mauricio Macri must undergo laser microsurgery in his vocal chords to recover from a standing dysphonia originated in the “intensive and/or abusive use of his voice”
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 08:57 UTC
Brazil's Vale sells its fertilizer business to cut debt

Brazil's Vale, the world’s largest iron ore and nickel miner said on Monday it will sell most of its fertilizer business to US-based Mosaic Co., the No.1 producer of phosphate fertilizer, in a deal worth about US$2.5 billion.
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 08:53 UTC
Macri manages to neutralize labor unrest with accord on income tax floor

The Argentine government managed on Monday a great breathing space after reaching an understanding with labor unions on income tax cuts which threatened to derail relations with organized labor, and now also ensure a peaceful end of the year holidays. During the morning and while negotiations were ongoing, transport unions showed their muscle paralyzing flights, trains, buses and subways, in the main cities of the country.
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 08:32 UTC
12 people killed as lorry crams into Berlin German Christmas market

A Polish-registered lorry crammed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people and injuring nearly 50, it was reported. A suspect believed to be the driver at the time of the impact was arrested, Berlin police said.
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 08:19 UTC
Macri and Bachelet agree on a Mercosur-Pacific Alliance meeting in first half of 2017

Argentina and Chile agreed to organize a major Mercosur, Pacific Alliance trade blocks' meeting during the first half of 2017. Last Friday Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and her cabinet were in Buenos Aires with peers Mauricio Macri and ministers as part of an agenda of regular meetings to address a joint agenda.
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 07:43 UTC
Falklands' second flight to South America addressed at talks in London

Argentina and the United Kingdom held in London on Monday the first of a two-day round of talks in the framework of the September joint communiqué with the purpose of improving bilateral relations and cooperation, and advancing in one of the few contentious issues, the Falkland Islands' dispute.
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 07:00 UTC
Chile sanctioned with fine and stadium ban for eighth bout of homophobic chanting

Fifa hit Chile with a two-match stadium ban and a 30,000 Swiss franc (US$29,000) fine on Monday for a fresh bout of homophobic chanting by their fans. The Copa America champions are barred from playing at their Santiago home stadium for matches against Paraguay and Ecuador next year.
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 06:51 UTC
US labor market “the strongest in more than a decade”, Yellen tells graduating class

The United States labor market is in the best condition in last decade said the chairman of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen during a speech to the graduating class at the University of Baltimore. Fed chairman said that the signs of healthy labor market are abundant, among which stand out the stable rate of creation of new jobs and lower share of cuts.
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 06:40 UTC
Trump easily confirmed by the Electoral College: promises “to work hard to unite the country”

Billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump was officially elected as the 45th U.S. president Monday, his victory confirmed by the required vote in the Electoral College. Republican Trump prevailed comfortably in the Electoral College easily dashing a long-shot push by a small movement of detractors to try to block him from gaining the White House.
Tuesday, December 20th 2016 - 06:09 UTC
Christine Lagarde guilty, yet unpunished

A French court on Monday found International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence for her doings as finance minister in 2008, when she failed to challenge a state arbitration payout to a business tycoon in.