Stories for December 2017

Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 10:58 UTC
“Mercosur, the most isolated and protectionist block in the world”

Mercosur is the most isolated and protectionist block in the world, said Argentine president Mauricio Macri on Thursday during a meeting with Argentine media, in Brasilia, in the framework of the current presidential summit during which the six-month rotating chair of the group will passed from Brazil to Paraguay.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 10:51 UTC
Theresa May loses one of her closest allies in the cabinet to pornography allegations

Damian Green, one of British Prime Minister Theresa May's closest allies, has been sacked from the cabinet after an inquiry found he had breached the ministerial code. He was “asked to quit” after he was found to have made “inaccurate and misleading” statements over what he knew about claims pornography was found on his office computer in 2008.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 10:46 UTC
Mercosur divided on Jerusalem vote: Argentina and Paraguay abstained; Brazil and Uruguay supported

A resolution backed overwhelmingly by the United Nations has effectively called on the US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The vote in support of the resolution was 128, nine against and 35 abstentions. The South American Mercosur block, currently holding a summit in Brasilia, voted divided, while Brazil and Uruguay supported the resolution, Argentina and Paraguay abstained.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 10:43 UTC
Falklands' Concordia Bay ferry resumes operations

The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) confirmed on Thursday that Concordia Bay ferry operations will resume from midday on Friday 22 December.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 10:36 UTC
Falklands included in US universities and NASA project to keep track of kelp floating forests

Kelp forests grow along coastlines worldwide, largely hidden from view. Like rainforests, they're among the planet's most important ecosystems: beautiful but fragile habitats for a wide array of plant and animal species. But scientists believe kelp forests are being threatened by climate change. Now, researchers from UCLA and seven other universities have an improved tool for tracking these shifting ecosystems, the largest of which is about 5 miles long.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 10:16 UTC
Catalonia is back at starting point: separatists win a slim majority

Catalonia's separatists look set to regain power in the wealthy Spanish region after local elections on Thursday, deepening the nation's political crisis in a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and European Union leaders who backed him. With nearly all votes counted, separatist parties won a slim majority in Catalan parliament, a result that promises to prolong political tensions which have damaged Spain's economy and prompted a business exodus from the region.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 09:56 UTC
Argentina: Approval of reform bills triggers markets

Merval, the main index of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, rose 1.51% Thursday, closing at 28,494.01 points - close to exceeding the maximum of the year, by 28,500 points. The Argentine stocks were driven by the approval of the pension and tax reforms passed this week in the House of Representatives.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 09:49 UTC
Peruvian president manages to survive impeachment but emerges weaker

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski survived an impeachment vote in congress late Thursday, thwarting an attempt by opposition lawmakers to oust him over ties to the Brazilian construction giant implicated in the region's biggest corruption scandal.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 09:17 UTC
Passports of 130 Venezuelan children deemed void - no Xmas family gathering for them

The Venezuelan government, through the first prosecutor of Vargas state and officers of the Autonomic Service of Identification, Migration and Foreign Affairs prevented the leaving of 130 children for Peru, where they were to meet with their parents last December 15.
Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 06:45 UTC
Theresa May pledges no compromise on Falklands' right to self determination

In a personal Christmas message to Falkland Islanders, Prime Minister Theresa May emphasized that she would not allow anyone to compromise Islanders’ right to self determination. Her full message follows: