Stories for January 2017

Monday, January 30th 2017 - 11:29 UTC
Social Democrats chose Schultz, president of European Parliament to unseat Merkel

Leaders of Germany's Social Democrats have chosen Martin Schulz, for many years president of the European Parliament, as their candidate to unseat Chancellor Angela Merkel. Schulz promised supporters his campaign for September's elections would focus on “hard-working people”.
Monday, January 30th 2017 - 11:06 UTC
Trudeau sidetracks Trump, “Welcome to Canada all those fleeing persecution, terror and war”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken a stand on social media against the temporary US ban on refugees and immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. PM Trudeau underscored his government's commitment to bringing in “those fleeing persecution, terror & war”.
Monday, January 30th 2017 - 10:34 UTC
Chaos and mass protests in US airports; Trump stands by immigration ban

The Trump administration is standing firm over its ban on immigration from seven countries despite court rulings and mass protests against it. In a statement, President Trump said visas would once again be issued once “the most secure policies” were in place, and denied it was a Muslim ban. The move has been widely condemned.
Monday, January 30th 2017 - 10:00 UTC
Iraq furious with the Trump ban: Bagdad recalls that they are in the front line combating the IS

Iraq will lobby against new travel limits to the United States by Iraqis, arguing both countries need to uphold their fight against Islamic State (IS), Iraqi parliamentarians said on Sunday. The Iraqi government has so far declined comment on an executive order signed by new U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday that suspends the entry of travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for at least 90 days.
Monday, January 30th 2017 - 09:55 UTC
New Antarctica record for a cruise vessel

The residential ship, The World, has broken the record for the most southerly navigation reaching 78°43•997´S and 163°41•421´W at the Bay of Whales in Antarctica’s Ross Sea. The World recorded this polar record at 10:41hrs ship’s time on Saturday. Commanded by Captain Dag H. Saevik this is the furthest south any vessel has ever sailed.
Sunday, January 29th 2017 - 09:57 UTC
Damaged cruise vessel ready to leave Ushuaia on a piggy-back trip to Europe

A major rescue operation took place in Ushuaia, Argentine Tierra del Fuego when a cruise vessel from National Geographic, which was non operational since limping back from Antarctica a month ago was hauled on to a special tug-carrier and is now preparing for its piggy-back trip to a Dutch ship yard for repairs.
Sunday, January 29th 2017 - 09:37 UTC
Over 6.000 cruise visitors in Punta Arenas on one day; 44 calls scheduled before the end of the season

Last Friday was the busiest cruise season day for Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile: over 6.000 visitors, passengers and crew members, landed making it a great day for local tours operators, artisans, shops and all those linked to the industry.
Sunday, January 29th 2017 - 09:26 UTC
US Judge issues a stay temporarily halting Trump's deportation executive order

A US judge has issued a stay temporarily halting the deportation of visa holders or refugees under an executive order from President Trump. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a legal case early on Saturday in response to the order. The judge's stay prevents those “caught up” in the aftermath from being deported, the ACLU said.
Saturday, January 28th 2017 - 12:00 UTC
Consumer spending helps UK economy surprise and grows faster than expected in 2016

Strong consumer spending helped the UK's economy to grow faster than expected at the end of last year. The economy grew by 0.6% in the October-to-December period, the same rate as in the previous two quarters, according to an initial estimate from the Office for National Statistics.
Saturday, January 28th 2017 - 11:53 UTC
US economy expands at an annual 1.6%; “Trumpconomics” promises 4% growth

The US economy grew at an annual pace of 1.9% in the fourth quarter of last year, according to official figures. That was slower than the 2.2% growth rate economists had been expecting and below third quarter growth of 3.5%, which means annual GDP rose by 1.6%, the slowest since 2011 and down on 2015 when the world's largest economy expanded by 2.6%.