Stories for October 2017

Saturday, October 28th 2017 - 13:32 UTC
Temer survives biology and court charges, but his reforms' agenda is significantly weakened

President Michel Temer’s administration turned its attention Thursday to pressing its reform agenda, but it is unclear if it has the support to govern after convincing a small majority in Brazil's Congress not to suspend the leader and make him stand trial on corruption charges.
Saturday, October 28th 2017 - 08:35 UTC
Falklands launches 2017 Poppy Appeal: 100th anniversary of Passchendaele and 35th of South Atlantic conflict

This week the Falkland Islands Branch of the Royal British Legion officially launched the Island’s 2017 Poppy Appeal. Since 1921 members of the public have worn the red poppy on their chest as a symbol of Remembrance to remember the fallen Service men and women killed in conflict.
Saturday, October 28th 2017 - 08:11 UTC
Western world leaders rally behind Rajoy and support Spain's territorial integrity

Leaders from the world have largely rallied behind Spain's central government after the Catalan parliament voted in favor of splitting from Madrid and establishing an independent republic. Spanish president Mariano Rajoy on Friday announced the dissolution of the Catalan parliament and called for snap regional elections in a swift response to the Catalan MPs' declaration for independence.
Saturday, October 28th 2017 - 07:58 UTC
Argentina formally protests Rapier missile exercise in the Falklands

Argentina presented on Thursday a formal protest to the United Kingdom embassy in Buenos Aires rejecting the military exercises with Rapier missiles in the Falkland Islands, scheduled to take place next week.
Friday, October 27th 2017 - 22:47 UTC
Glyphosate debate divides Europe and it fails to vote on license extension

European Union countries failed this week to vote on a license extension for weed-killer glyphosate, delaying again a decision on the widely used herbicide that critics say could cause cancer. The EU said in a statement the relevant committee did not hold a vote at a meeting and that it would announce the date of the next meeting shortly.
Friday, October 27th 2017 - 22:39 UTC
Falklands expects VIP visitors in November

Rotary winds permitting, November should bring the arrival in the Falkland Islands of two celebrity visitors: award-winning journalist and TV presenter, John Stapleton and explorer Ranulph Fiennes, described by The Guinness Book of Records as, “the world’s greatest living explorer.”
Friday, October 27th 2017 - 17:13 UTC
Catalonia and Madrid double the stakes and move into unchartered waters

Spain's Senate on Friday authorized the government to apply constitutional measures to take control of the government of Catalonia. A majority of senators gave Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy the go-ahead through Article 155 of the constitution to apply unprecedented measures, including sacking Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont and his cabinet. It also authorized him to curtail Catalan parliamentary powers.
Friday, October 27th 2017 - 15:28 UTC
Spain:“Article 155 will mark the beginning of the end of disobedience of the law”

The Spanish Senate is poised to activate Article 155 of the country’s constitution on Friday, giving Madrid the power to take over Catalonia’s institutions and police and remove its regional leader from office.
Friday, October 27th 2017 - 09:24 UTC
Cristina Fernandez testifies in alleged cover up of deadliest terrorist attack in Argentine history

Ex Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has denied in court that she covered up for Iranians accused of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in which 85 people were killed.
Friday, October 27th 2017 - 09:19 UTC
Mapuches acquitted of arson attack and two deaths in south Chile

A Chilean court this week acquitted eleven Mapuche people accused of terrorism over an arson attack that killed an elderly couple, part of a series of indigenous rights protests.