Stories for 2017

Tuesday, September 19th 2017 - 09:54 UTC
Joint AECO/IAATO conference to promote responsible polar tourism

More than 90 representatives from the Arctic and Antarctic expedition cruise industry will gather in Iceland for the second AECO/IAATO conference to be held in October 1/4. The topic of the conference is evolution and new challenges in the polar tourism industry.
Tuesday, September 19th 2017 - 09:48 UTC
Venezuela “free of the dollar tyranny” publishes oil and fuel prices in Chinese Yuan

Venezuela published the price of its oil and fuel in Chinese currency on Friday in what it called an effort to free the socialist-run country from the “tyranny of the dollar,” echoing a plan recently announced by President Nicolas Maduro.
Tuesday, September 19th 2017 - 09:39 UTC
Scotland and London discussing terms of devolution under Brexit

The Scottish government is to outline plans to amend the legislation taking the UK out of the European Union. The Scottish and Welsh governments call the EU withdrawal bill currently under consideration at Westminster a “power grab” of devolved responsibilities, and have worked together to draw up amendments as a direct challenge to the UK government's legislation.
Tuesday, September 19th 2017 - 09:26 UTC
Argentina rapidly recovering as a world power in beef exports

Argentina, which a century ago became a world power on the back of its beef exports, is poised to re-enter the top 10 shippers, helped by the end of trade curbs, and a herd rebuilding from near-50-year lows.
Tuesday, September 19th 2017 - 09:04 UTC
Hurricane Maria flattens Dominica: “we need help, we need help of all kinds”

The British Overseas Territory of Dominica has suffered “widespread damage” from Hurricane Maria, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced. “We have lost all that money can buy,” he said in a Facebook post. The hurricane suddenly strengthened to a “potentially catastrophic” category five storm, before making landfall on the Caribbean island.
Tuesday, September 19th 2017 - 08:37 UTC
Trump's first address to the UN Assembly: all countries will be listening

United States President Donald Trump, in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, will harshly criticize North Korea, Iran and Venezuela. “He will speak in extremely tough terms about the North Korean menace and the threat it poses to our security and the security of all the nations in that room,” according to a senior White House official who gave reporters a preview of the address.
Monday, September 18th 2017 - 10:41 UTC
Scottish government supports Catalonia's right to decide its future

The people of Catalonia should determine its future, the Scottish government has said. The region's government has insisted a referendum on independence from Spain will go ahead on 1 October. Madrid has vowed to block the vote, saying it is unconstitutional.
Monday, September 18th 2017 - 09:40 UTC
Washington considers closing embassy in Havana because of “sonic attacks”

The United States is considering closing its embassy in Cuba after diplomatic staff reported health problems which Washington blames on a “sonic attack”. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said a decision whether to shut to the mission in Havana was “under evaluation”.
Monday, September 18th 2017 - 09:33 UTC
Spain pledges to keep border “fluidity” with Gibraltar following Brexit

Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alfonso Dastis, sought to reassure cross-border workers during a visit to La Linea, insisting Madrid would work to minimize the impact of Brexit on Spanish citizens, “and very especially those from the Campo and La Linea” who cross every day to Gibraltar.
Monday, September 18th 2017 - 09:17 UTC
Lib/Dem a growing “plausible alternative” given Tories and Labour's disarray, says Sir Vince Cable

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has insisted he is a credible candidate to be the next prime minister. Despite heading a party with just 12 MPs, Sir Vince said he could replace Theresa May in Downing Street.