Stories for October 2017

Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 05:29 UTC
WHO Director General rescinds Goodwill Ambassador appointment

World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced that after much listening and reflection, he has decided to rescind the appointment of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador for NCDs in Africa.
Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 05:05 UTC
Catalonia parties meet to decide how to react to Rajoy's announced measures

Catalonia’s separatists weighed their options Sunday ahead of a week that will see Spain take the drastic step of sacking the region’s government as well as calling fresh elections to try and stop the country breaking up.
Sunday, October 22nd 2017 - 01:45 UTC
Uruguay's football caught between a rock and a hard place

Soccer passionate Uruguay is again with no matches this weekend in the local major leagues and could be for several weeks, because of a conflict between professional players demanding to remove the authorities of their association and a call for fresh elections. A request supported by six hundred signatures, and until complied there will be no games. The measure has been supported by the referees association.
Sunday, October 22nd 2017 - 00:38 UTC
Major scandal after Mugabe was appointed as “WHO goodwill ambassador”

In a tweet, WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “I'm listening. I hear your concerns. Rethinking the approach in light of WHO values. I will issue a statement as soon as possible.” Mugabe, 93, the world's oldest head of state, has long been criticized at home for going overseas for medical treatment as Zimbabwe's once-prosperous economy falls apart.
Saturday, October 21st 2017 - 18:32 UTC
Rajoy asks Senate to remove Catalonia leadership and call regional elections

The Spanish government moved decisively Saturday to use a previously untapped constitutional power so it can take control of Catalonia and derail the independence movement led by separatist politicians in the prosperous industrial region.
Saturday, October 21st 2017 - 18:00 UTC
Autopsy shows body found is missing Santiago Maldonado and has no signs of violence

The corpse found in Chubut River, in Argentine Patagonia, is Santiago Maldonado, it was confirmed late Friday by family members who recognized his body tattoos. Santiago lived in El Bolsón, a paradise for hippies in middle of Patagonia, precisely tattooing or living of small handicrafts in close contact with the Mapuche indigenous people who are in conflict with landowners and in recurrent clashes with security forces.
Saturday, October 21st 2017 - 10:12 UTC
UK and EU agree to protect Ireland's Good Friday Agreement and Common Travel Area

Prime minister Theresa May has repeated that the unique circumstances of North Ireland will require a specific Brexit solution. “It is vital that joint work on the peace process is not affected in any way, it is too important for that,” said PM May in Brussels after a meeting of EU leaders.
Saturday, October 21st 2017 - 10:08 UTC
Theresa May Brexit efforts receive strong boost from Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave Theresa May a Brexit boost as EU leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels, saying there were “encouraging” signs that talks on the future UK/EU trade relationship could begin as early as December.
Saturday, October 21st 2017 - 08:09 UTC
King insists Catalonia “is and will remain” in Spain. Rajoy planning a general election next January

In his second intervention in the secession crisis, Spain's King Felipe VI has said Catalonia “is and will remain” an essential part of the country. He told an awards ceremony in the northern city of Oviedo that the Catalan government was causing a rift and Spain would solve the problem through democratic institutions.
Saturday, October 21st 2017 - 08:03 UTC
Catalonia customers withdrawing symbolic sums of money from banks leaving the region

Bank customers in Catalonia are withdrawing symbolic amounts of money from financial institutions that have moved their official headquarters to other locations in Spain amid a political crisis over the region’s independence bid.