Stories for 2016

Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 16:38 UTC
UN highlights link between press freedom and development

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message for 2016 - Human rights, democratic societies and sustainable development depend on the free flow of information. And the right to information depends on press freedom. Each year, we observe World Press Freedom Day to emphasize these fundamental principles, to protect the independence of the media and to honour media workers who risk and have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 15:26 UTC
Israel will have a non-member representation at NATO headquarters

NATO said on Wednesday it had agreed to non-member Israel setting up representation at its Brussels headquarters, a tentative sign of rapprochement between the Jewish state and NATO member Turkey.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 12:27 UTC
ECB will stop printing €500 notes in 2018 to help combat money launderers and criminals

The European Central Bank has announced it will stop printing €500 notes in 2018. It says the move is to stop the notes being used by money launderers and criminals. In effect they are easily transportable. A million Euros in €500 notes weighs 2.2 kilograms and can be carried in a laptop bag.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 12:09 UTC
European farmers march in Dublin to protest trade negotiations with Mercosur

European farmers took to the streets of Dublin outside the EU Commission offices to highlight the potential “sellout” of the multi-billion-euro beef industry in trade talks with Mercosur. Concerns have been rising over discussions at EU level over the impact a deal with Mercosur would have on Ireland's €2.5bn beef industry, which depends on EU markets for over 90% of its exports.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 11:57 UTC
Spanish elections campaign for a new parliament takes off 10 June

Spain's King Felipe VI signed the decree dissolving parliament following December's inconclusive general election. As no political parties were able to coalesce their support into a coalition government in time for the deadline, new elections will be held on June 26.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 11:46 UTC
Kuczynski leads with 50.1% vote intention, ahead of 5 June Peruvian presidential runoff

Presidential candidate of Peruvians for Change, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (PPK), has a vote intention of 50.1%, while Popular Strength presidential candidate, Keiko Fujimori garnered 49.9% of the votes ahead of the 5 June runoff, according to the latest GFK survey, released this week.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 11:27 UTC
Petrobras sells stakes in Argentina and Chile, part of major divestment plan

Brazil’s state-run oil firm Petrobras said it has concluded the sale of its 67.2% stake in Petrobras Argentina to Argentina’s Pampa Energía for US$ 892 million, according to a securities filing. Petrobras also sold all of Petrobras Chile Distribución to Southern Cross Group for about US$ 490 million as part of its divestment program, the company said.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 09:42 UTC
Argentina farm exports soar in first quarter following elimination of taxes and controls

Argentine farm exports rocketed 68% higher in the first quarter compared to the same 2015 period, thanks to new policies that prompted growers to sell stockpiles built up under the previous administration, the government announced.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 07:30 UTC
Senate impeachment committee votes on Friday on Rousseff's political future

The rapporteur of a Senate committee on impeachment issued a report Wednesday recommending that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff be tried in the upper house for allegedly breaking budget laws.
Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 07:07 UTC
UK council elections could question Corbyn's leadership; London could go to a dissident Labour Muslim

Millions of British voters go to the polls Thursday in the most important elections since David Cameron sealed a second term as prime minister a year ago, but this time it is Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s future that is at stake. Despite the squabbling inside the ruling Conservative party divided over Europe, the local and regional elections are shaping up as the first real test of the Labor leader´s reign and one that his opponents are desperate to ensure he fails.