Stories for December 13th 2017

Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 23:59 UTC
Nobel Prizes criticize current US policy during the awards gala banquet

A United States researcher who shared this year's Nobel Prize for medicine bluntly criticized political developments in the US in his address at the awards' gala banquet Sunday night. Michael Rosbash, who was honored for his work on circadian rhythms — commonly called the body clock — expressed concern that U.S. government support such as that received by him and colleagues Jeffrey Hall and Michael Young is endangered.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 22:08 UTC
“Ground break” in tackling protein defect that causes Huntington's disease

Scientists have for the first time corrected a protein defect that causes Huntington's disease, by injecting a drug into the spine, offering new hope for patients with the devastating genetic disease. Lead researcher Sarah Tabrizi, professor of clinical neurology at University College London, said the ability of the drug to tackle the underlying cause of Huntington's by lowering levels of a toxic protein was “ground-breaking”.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 21:50 UTC
OAS observers will be deployed in Brazil's general election of October 2018

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Brazil signed the Procedural Agreement for the first deployment of an Electoral Observation Mission to Brazil.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 11:08 UTC
Trump the big looser in Alabama's senate race: several crucial bills imperiled

Doug Jones has become the first Democrat in 25 years to win a US Senate seat for Alabama after a bitter campaign against Republican Roy Moore. The 63-year-old former prosecutor's victory deals a blow to Republicans, narrowing their majority to 51-49 in the Senate. With 99% of the votes counted, Mr Moore refused to concede on Tuesday night.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 10:57 UTC
PM May faces rebellion from backbenchers who demand last say on Brexit final deal

The British government is facing the threat of a defeat by rebel backbenchers when MPs vote on its flagship EU legislation. Led by the former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, the rebels want to insert a legal guarantee that MPs should get a vote on any final Brexit deal before it is finalized.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 08:43 UTC
Timerman denied release from house arrest, despite a very delicate medical condition

Federal Judge Claudio Bonadio denied on Tuesday a request for the release of Argentine ex foreign minister Hector Timerman who will remain under house arrest as part of the case in which he was indicted for treason and cover up of the investigation into the 1994 AMIA Jewish organization attack in Buenos Aires.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 08:29 UTC
US, EU and Japan target China on market distorting trade practices and policies

The United States, European Union and Japan vowed on Tuesday to work together to fight market-distorting trade practices and policies that have fueled excess production capacity, naming several key features of China’s economic system.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 08:14 UTC
Russia and EU ready to discuss mutual lifting of trade restrictions, says Moscow

Russian Economy Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin said after the meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference in Argentina that Russia and the European Union have agreed to discuss the mutual lifting of trade restrictions.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 08:03 UTC
Mercosur/EU ever so close but the accord has yet to be grasped, maybe 2018

The talks between the European Union and Mercosur will likely extend into next year after European negotiators said they needed more time to respond to improved offers, a source from Mercosur negotiators said on Tuesday.
Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 07:33 UTC
May expresses solidarity to Macri over the missing ARA San Juan submarine

British Prime Minister Theresa May contacted on Tuesday Argentine president Mauricio Macri to express solidarity over the missing submarine ARA San Juan which disappeared on 15 November in the South Atlantic after exchanging messages with its base in Mar del Plata. The news was supplied by the official Argentine news agency, Telam.