Stories for November 20th 2017

Monday, November 20th 2017 - 19:22 UTC
Venezuelan street markets trade staples in spoonful portions forced by poverty and scarcity

Poverty and scarcity are so extended in Venezuela that people now sell and buy food by the spoonful in a desperate attempt to overcome a situation that has worsened as the economy has entered into a growing hyperinflationary cycle.
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 11:53 UTC
Calls for an ICC investigation into abuses of murder and torture by Venezuelan leaders

Venezuela’s former attorney general urged the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation into alleged abuses of murder and torture by the leaders of the crisis-hit country. President “Nicolas Maduro and his government must pay for this, for these crimes against humanity,” said Luisa Ortega, after handing over to the tribunal in The Hague a dossier containing 1,000 pieces of evidence.
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 11:31 UTC
Jimmy Carter awarded highest honor by Argentina for his defense of human rights

Former United States President Jimmy Carter was recently recognized by the Argentine government in a ceremony held at the Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter, 93, was conferred the highest honor awarded by the government of Argentina: the ‘Order of the Liberator General San Martín.’
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 11:19 UTC
Ex Chilean Junta member and supporter of the UK effort during the Falklands conflict has died

Fernando Matthei Chile's ex commander of the Air Force and member of the military Junta, led by Augusto Pinchet, died on Sunday at the age of 92. The former pilot, was the father of Evelyn Matthei, who run and lost against Michelle Bachelet in the 2013 presidential election and since 2016 is mayor of Providencia, one of the main districts fo the capital Santiago.
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 09:27 UTC
The Work in Fishing Convention, ILO 188, has come into force

A major boost to efforts to improve working conditions for millions of workers in the fishing sector came into force on November 16 with the International Labor Convention 188.
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 09:02 UTC
Macri on the right track but economy needs growth and investment

Following on his congressional midterm election win, president Mauricio Macri sealed a fiscal agreement with governors of nearly all Argentine provinces in a sign of his growing clout in upcoming negotiations to close the budget deficit, reform labor legislation and open up the economy. However there are some warnings and indicators to keep watch off, according to an orthodox economist.
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 08:46 UTC
Caracas ex mayor flees Venezuela and pledges to denounce the Maduro regime worldwide

The ousted mayor of Caracas pledged to spread his protest against Venezuela's socialist government across the world as he arrived in Spain on Saturday, a day after escaping from house arrest and slipping past Venezuelan security forces into Colombia.
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 08:21 UTC
Tax and migration disputes impede Merkel from forming a coalition government

Talks on forming a coalition government in Germany have collapsed after the free-market liberal FDP pulled out. FDP leader Christian Lindner said there was no “basis of trust” with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the Greens.
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 07:43 UTC
US Navy sending deep-sea rescue equipment to assist in search for ARA San Juan

The United States Navy has sent rescue equipment and crew to assist in the search for a missing Argentine Navy submarine and its 44 crew members. The San Diego based Undersea Rescue Command (URC) departed from Miramar Saturday with a Submarine Rescue Chamber (SRC) and four aircraft, en route to the Southern Atlantic, where the submarine A.R.A. San Juan lost contact with the Argentine Navy on Wednesday.
Monday, November 20th 2017 - 07:08 UTC
Piñera and Guillier to a much disputed runoff; far right and far left parties will be decisive

Conservative Sebastian Piñera, who held a commanding lead in Chile's first round of presidential voting, and leftist former TV journalist Alejandro Guillier will contest a runoff next month. Ex-president Piñera had a 36.6% lead to Guillier's 22.7% with more than 98% of the votes, --of a very low turnout, 46.6%--, counted after the first round.