Stories for January 2018

Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:37 UTC
French fishermen protest against pulse fishing and block Calais and Boulogne

French fishermen have blocked the ports of Calais and Boulogne in protest at so-called pulse fishing, which uses electrified nets to stun fish. Fishing boats stopped ferries entering or leaving Calais while a roadblock stopped traffic at Boulogne. Calais is a major link between the UK and France used by thousands of tourists and lorries every day.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:31 UTC
Venezuela expels Spanish ambassador: Madrid expected to reciprocate

Venezuela has expelled the Spanish ambassador to Caracas, Jesús Silva Fernández, accusing him of interfering in its internal affairs. Spain has rejected the allegations and said it would reciprocate.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:27 UTC
Brazil announces open skies policy with US and an end to the 20% ownership cap

Brazil’s Congress will finalize as soon as February legislation opening the way for deregulation of flights to and from the United States, Minister of Tourism Marx Beltrao said. He also expects legislators to approve a plan to allow foreign carriers a bigger chunk of Brazilian airlines. Both measures are part of a government drive to push down fares and boost tourism, which accounts for an estimated 3.7% of GDP.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:24 UTC
“Argentina has left the populist experiment, and no other country has its potential”

Argentina has left behind its populist experiment, and there is no other country with greater potential, Argentine president Mauricio Macri told the World Economic Forum in Davos during a speech to the forum of world political and business leaders.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:11 UTC
Soros blasts tech monopolies such as Facebook and Google: 'a threat to democracy'

Hungarian born billionaire investor George Soros has criticised tech “monopolies” such as Facebook and Google, calling them a threat to democracy. At his annual dinner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Soros warned that social media platforms were “obstacles to innovation”.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 07:41 UTC
Falklands' 26-competitor team to Commonwealth Games in Australia

The Falkland Islands will be sending a team of 26 competitors and officials to the 21st Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast Australia in April. Two sports will be represented: badminton and various shooting disciplines and the whole event will run from April 4 -15.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 07:27 UTC
Falklands decide to discuss a Holiday Scheme, originally funded by the government

The Falkland Islands Holiday Credit Scheme that lasted some ten years until 2008, and by which the government credited a daily contribution to each Islander in support of the cost of overseas travel, may be about to make a comeback, according to the latest edition of the Penguin News.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 07:21 UTC
Lula challenges court and accepts nomination as presidential pre-candidate

Brazilian ex-head of state Lula da Silva agreed on Thursday to represent the opposition Workers’ Party (PT) in this year’s presidential election, although a corruption conviction makes it unclear whether he will be able to run.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 07:05 UTC
Lula's passport seized by a court; trip to African Union conference cancelled

A Brazilian court on Thursday approved the seizure of former President Lula da Silva’s passport, the justice ministry said, after an appeals court upheld the corruption conviction of the left-wing hero.
Thursday, January 25th 2018 - 10:50 UTC
Electoral retaliation in Venezuela

The elections are not ordered or decreed, they are called. And is that the Venezuelan regime, with this new nonsense, does nothing but reveal the murder, not only of people who think differently in such atrocious ways as executing them extrajudicially -with a complete army against half dozen of people- to silence and chastise, but also murder of fundamental democratic and republican principles while trampling the country's constitution.