Stories for December 2017

Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 07:50 UTC
Strong reply to Netanyahu: No European leaders plan to adopt Trump's position on Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the EU on Monday to back a new U.S. peace initiative in the Middle East, after President Donald Trump's unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital met with widespread condemnation.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 19:51 UTC
Sao Paulo governor named leader of PSDB and most likely presidential candidate

The centrist Brazilian Social Democracy Party, PSDB, elected four-time Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin as its leader on Saturday, making him its most likely presidential nominee in next year’s elections. Alckmin threw the party’s weight behind a social security overhaul that is currently before Congress and would cut generous pensions for public-sector employees.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 19:29 UTC
Brazilian lawmaker and professional clown won't run for reelection: he feels ashamed of his colleagues

A professional clown in Brazil who ran for congress and won by a huge margin says he will not stand again in 2018. Francisco Everardo Oliveira Silva, better known as Tiririca, is coming to the end of his second term in the Chamber of Deputies.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 19:24 UTC
Honduras recount of presidential votes “extremely consistent”

Honduras' electoral tribunal has finished the partial recount of votes from the disputed presidential election, declaring the results are “extremely consistent” with the original count. In the partial recount of 4,753 ballot boxes, President Juan Orlando Hernandez won 50.1% of the votes, against some 31.5% for his rival Salvador Nasralla.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 16:37 UTC
Futures market for Bitcoins took off on Sunday at Chicago Board Options Exchange

The first-ever Bitcoin future jumped after it began trading on Sunday as the increasingly popular virtual currency made its debut on a major U.S. exchange. The futures contract that expires in January surged more than US$3,000 to US$18,010 four hours after trading launched on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. The contract opened at US$15,000, according to data from the CBOE.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 16:02 UTC
UK fishermen urge call for a short Brexit transition period: nine month is enough

Fishermen's leaders have urged ministers to rule out a long Brexit transition as officials meet in Brussels for fish quota talks. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) said only a nine-month transition period was needed for UK fleets to leave the Common Fisheries Policy.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 15:50 UTC
US economy closer to full employment as job growth remains steady

United States jobs growth was better than expected in November, with payrolls rising by 228,000. Service, health care and manufacturing firms helped to drive the gains, holding the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 15:36 UTC
EU/Japan sign free trade deal comprising 30% of global GDP and reaffirm rejection of protectionism

The European Union and Japan have concluded negotiations on a giant free trade deal that they said was reached while “fighting the temptation of protectionism”, a message apparently directed at U.S. President Donald Trump. The deal, which the EU called its biggest ever, must be signed and ratified by both sides.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 15:10 UTC
Brazilian 2017 inflation below target for the first time in two decades

Brazil's monthly inflation eased more-than-expected in November after accelerating in the previous month, mainly due to the continued fall in food prices, preliminary data from IBGE showed on Friday. The consumer price index rose 0.28% month-on-month following 0.42% in October.
Monday, December 11th 2017 - 09:30 UTC
Opposition parties will be barred from 2018 presidential vote, Maduro anticipates

President Nicolas Maduro announced Sunday that leading opposition parties will be barred from taking part in next year's presidential vote after they boycotted mayoral polls, in a move set to further consolidate his grip on power. That includes the groups of key figures who have led street protests against his rule such as Henrique Capriles, Leopoldo Lopez and others, Maduro told reporters after casting his vote in the municipal polls.