Stories for December 4th 2018

Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 21:36 UTC
Sino-Panamanian relations off to a strong start, says Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping Monday explained relations between his country and Panama have ”gotten off to a strong start in just a year-and-a-half” after the establishment of diplomatic ties in June 2017.
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 18:41 UTC
Japanese mountaineer aged 86 ready to take on Aconcagua again

Yuichiro Miura, an 86 year old mountain climber from Japan, Monday promised to ‘hang on to the last’ in a bid to climb Argentina’s Mount Aconcagua in January.
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 18:25 UTC
69-year-old Dutchman remains 69 years old, says court

A 69-year-old Dutchman who petitioned to be declared 20 years younger legally on the grounds that it was how he felt suffered a court setback Monday as the Arnhem judges ruled against him.
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 10:44 UTC
Maduro off to Moscow in search of Putin's help

After meeting in Caracas with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro took off for Moscow, where he hopes to hold some “serious talks” with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in order to “strengthen and expand diplomatic relations and friendly ties between the brotherly nations.”
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 10:02 UTC
Erdogan voices Turkey's support to Maduro in Caracas

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Monday said in Caracas that his country could cover most of Venezuela's financial needs and the government of President Nicolás Maduro invited him to boost new Turkish investments in areas such as gold mining and tourism. The main item between the two countries is gold marketing.
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 09:04 UTC
Brazil increasing ethanol capacity because of depressed global sugar prices

Brazilian sugar companies are increasing their capacity to produce ethanol in the face of depressed global sugar prices and government policies expected to boost demand for the biofuel. A shift to ethanol in the 2018-19 season slashed Brazil’s sugar output by 9 million tons to a 12-year low and more switching to the biofuel next season could help to wipe out a global surplus weighing on sugar prices.
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 08:58 UTC
“Collapse of civilization on the horizon” because of climate change declared Sir David Attenborough

The collapse of civilization and extinction of much of the natural world is “on the horizon” due to climate change, Sir David Attenborough declared at the opening day UN climate talks in Poland.
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 08:58 UTC
Benchmark emerging-market stocks index waiting for Brazil's Bolsonaro

Brazil’s presence in the benchmark emerging-market stock index could rise again should incoming President Jair Bolsonaro deliver on his promises to shore up the finances of Latin America’s largest economy, according to MSCI Inc chief executive Henry Fernandez.
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 08:57 UTC
Argentine federal security officers given more tolerance to use lethal weapons

A tough new ruling has come into effect in Argentina allowing federal security officers to appeal to lethal weapons when faced with criminal actions. Resolution 956/2018, signed by Security minister Patricia Bullrich says lethal weapons can be used when “other non violent means are not effective”.
Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 08:48 UTC
Australian drought hits wheat estimates: lowest crop in a decade

Australia on Tuesday lowered its wheat production forecast by 11% to the smallest in a decade amid a crippling drought across the country’s east coast that may cut exports from the world’s fourth biggest supplier.