Stories for December 29th 2016

Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 22:51 UTC
Obama's gov't expels 35 Russian diplomats - Moscow to take reciprocal steps

The government of the United States Thursday expelled 35 Russian diplomats from Washington and San Francisco, US Department of State said in an official statement. Meanwhile, lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov, who is Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council's (Parliamantary Upper House) warned that “reciprocal steps will be made with regards to the U.S. embassy in Moscow and, quite possibly, the consulates will be cut down in size as well.” In any case, it is believed that this decision “will destroy diplomatic relations” between the two countries, as one Kremlin source put it.
Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 22:28 UTC
Whereabouts of Greek Ambassador to Brazil unknown since Monday

Local police said in a statement on Thursday that Greece's ambassador to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis, has been last seen Monday night in Nova Iguacu, 40 kilometers northwest of Rio de Janeiro.
Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 19:58 UTC
Falklands' fisheries and oil issues must be discussed with the Argentine congress, warns lawmaker Carrió

All issues linked to fisheries and hydrocarbons in the Falklands/Malvinas must be discussed and approved by Congress, warned Argentina's chair of the foreign affairs committee adding that if necessary the officials involved, who ignore the legislative will be summoned and sacked with a no confidence vote and political trial.
Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 19:02 UTC
Filipino President Duterte threatens to throw corrupt officials off a helicopter

“If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out. I have done this before. Why would I not do it again?,” said Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte during a speech to victims of a typhoon on Tuesday, a clip of which was posted later on a video feed.
Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 11:36 UTC
Uruguay indifferent to the death of the country's last military dictator

Former General Gregorio Alvarez, the last leader of Uruguay’s dictatorship, 1973/1984, died in Montevideo on Wednesday while serving a prison sentence for human rights abuses. He was 91. The military’s health service said he died at the Central Hospital of the Armed Forces. He was buried in a private ceremony on Wednesday.
Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 06:38 UTC
Macri unharmed as protesters throw stones at his vehicle - Seven arrested.

Seven protesters were arrested for throwing stones during a protest at the vehicle in which Argentine President Mauricio Macri was traveling through the southern city of Villa Traful in the province of Neuquen. The stones broke the minivan's glasses but nobody inside was hurt, it was reported.
Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 06:07 UTC
ANCAP company in Argentina seeks bankruptcy reorganization proceedings

Uruguayan oil company ANCAP announced Wednesday through a press release that one of its companies, Carboclor S.A., based in Argentina, had turned to the courts to start the reorganization proceedings, known in Argentinian law as “Concurso Preventivo,” which is very similar to the United States' “Chapter Eleven” bankruptcy mechanism.
Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 05:44 UTC
Almost nothing to be named after Fidel to avoid cult of personality in Cuba

Cuban lawmakers Tuesday passed a bill whereby nothing shall bear the name of the late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who passed away November 25 last. No monuments or buildings shall be erected in his honour either.
Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 05:22 UTC
Milagro Sala gets 3-year suspended sentence but remains in preventive custody on other charges

Tupac Amaru group leader Milagro Sala was handed Wednesday a 3-year jail sentence by a Federal court in Jujuy for aggravated damage during an “escrache” protest against then national Senator Gerardo Morales in 2009 at the Professional Council of Economic Sciences in the provincial capital San Salvador de Jujuy. Sala also benefitted from a statute of limitations which rendered the threat charges void. Morales is now Governor of Jujuy.