Stories for January 15th 2018

Monday, January 15th 2018 - 21:08 UTC
Venezuelan rebels killed in operative against Oscar Pérez

An operation started at dawn on Monday in El Junquito, Caracas left 2 police and an undetermined number of dead rebels, the government announced. From his social networks, Oscar Perez, bloody and with detonations in the background, repeatedly reported on video that although he and his team had already surrendered, they did not stop receiving shots, missiles and grenades in the house where they were hiding.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 10:54 UTC
US Tourism Partners apologizes for President Trump's derogatory remarks

Whether travelers are visiting the United States from a “shithole country” or from Norway, the US is welcoming tourists and immigrants with open arms. Juergen Steinmetz, the chairman of the Hawaii (USA), Brussels (Belgium), Seychelles, and Bali (Indonesia)-based International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), a leading global travel and tourism organization, responded to US President’s Donald Trump’s “shithole country” remark when referring to an immigration issue in the United States.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 10:43 UTC
“Carnival Triumph” fails CDC sanitation inspection, for the first time ever

The cruise ship that earned the “poop cruise” moniker in 2013 has failed her sanitation inspection for the first time ever. In a report completed in November and released earlier this week, inspectors with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) gave the Carnival Triumph a score of 78 out of 100, well below the required 86-point margin for a passing grade. It is the first time she has ever failed an inspection, according to two decades of CDC records, and the first time since 2009 that her score fell below 90 points.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 10:39 UTC
Investigator of murdered Maltese journalist Caruana Galizia fears for his life

A former anti-corruption investigator in Malta has told BBC Newsnight he fears for his life after looking into allegations made by murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Jonathan Ferris is seeking full police protection amid concerns he could be targeted after looking into her claims against top political figures.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 10:35 UTC
British scientists join Chile's Future Congress to discuss humankind challenges

Twelve prominent British figures representing different areas of science, including economics, marine conservation and regenerative medicine, will be present the Future Congress between Monday January 15 and in Santiago and several Chilean regions.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 10:33 UTC
Brazil forecasts 110m tons of soybeans and 25m tons of corn in 2017/18 harvest

Brazilian official crop agency Conab has raised its crop estimates for soybeans and corn in 2017-18, as improved weather boosts yields and planted areas are revised higher.
Conab said in a monthly report that the current soybean crop, which was already planted and is under development, will reach 110.44 million tons, up from 109.18 million tons in December but still below the record of 114.08 million tons in 2016-17.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 10:25 UTC
First Minister Sturgeon: Brexit deal will decide second referendum on Scottish independence

Nicola Sturgeon has said she will be able to make a judgment on whether to back a second referendum on Scottish independence by the end of this year. The first minister said her decision would be made when the shape of a deal between Britain and the European Union became clear in the autumn.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 09:26 UTC
Three vessels and Russia's ROV continue search for ARA San Juan, missing since two months

Argentine navy ARA Islas Malvinas, a vessel normally assigned to patrolling duties in the southern seas and supplying Argentine scientific bases and stations in Antarctica has joined the search for the submarine ARA San Juan with a crew of 44, which has gone missing for two months, since November 15, in the South Atlantic.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 09:19 UTC
Donald joins the sloppy club: caught in his 'tighty-whities' chasing porn stars

United States president Donald Trump faced new accusations on Saturday regarding the alleged payment of hush money to a pornographic film star. A second actor in pornographic films told the Daily Beast she had been invited to join Trump when he was with Stephanie Clifford, who performs under the name Stormy Daniels. The same site reported that a third actor, who accused Trump of sexual misconduct before the 2016 election, is now subject to a non-disclosure agreement.
Monday, January 15th 2018 - 09:09 UTC
Macron lobbying for the French baguette as a UNESCO “intangible heritage”

French baguettes could soon join Chinese calligraphy, Neapolitan pizza and Belgian beer on a global list of officially recognized cultural treasures. President Emmanuel Macron is hoping to lend some serious sway to a campaign by his country's bakers to have the iconic doughy delicacy secure a place on UNESCO's “intangible heritage” list.