Stories for December 2019

Friday, December 27th 2019 - 09:10 UTC
Boat people with 71 illegal immigrants intercepted in the English Channel

Seventy-one migrants were intercepted on several boats in the English Channel overnight, with some needing hospitalization for hypothermia, French and British authorities said on Thursday.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:25 UTC
Morales claims he was ousted in a coup sponsored by the US aimed at taking over Bolivia's lithium resources

Former Bolivia president Evo Morales told news agencies in Buenos Aires last Tuesday that he was forced from office by a United States-backed coup d'etat aimed at gaining access to the South American country's vast lithium resources.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:20 UTC
In a public release Piñera tells president Fernandez MYOB, abstain from comments on Chilean domestic policy

In a formal public release, the Chilean Foreign office demanded that Argentine president Alberto Fernandez avoid making comments about the internal affairs of the country, following Fernandez statements during a television interview that the international community was not so critical of Chile as it is of Venezuela.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:15 UTC
Chile: Allegedly intentional fire in Valparaíso consumed around 245 houses at Christmas

A voracious fire in the Chilean city of Valparaíso began on Tuesday and extended until after Christmas Eve on Wednesday, leaving about 245 homes destroyed, 2000 people without power and a dozen injured. The authorities believe that the fires in the tourist city were intentional.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:10 UTC
Brain scan of president Bolsonaro detected no abnormalities

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday night that he briefly lost his memory after falling at his presidential residence in Brasilia, the capital, earlier this week.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:09 UTC
Time is right to reinvent the brand of a far too rich The Firm, following princely excesses?

After a torrid 2019 in which the queen's son Prince Andrew was implicated in an underage sex abuse scandal, many in Britain are again asking if the monarchy has gotten too big - and rich - for its own good.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:00 UTC
Strong earthquakes strike Colombia, with no reports of injuries or major damage

Two strong earthquakes, of magnitude 6.2 and magnitude 5.7, struck central Colombia on Tuesday, the Colombian Geological Service said, but there were no immediate reports of any injuries or major damage.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:00 UTC
Francis urges the world to let the light of Christmas pierce the “darkness in human hearts”

Pope Francis urged the world to let the light of Christmas pierce the “darkness in human hearts” that leads to religious persecution, social injustice, armed conflicts and fear of migrants.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 11:49 UTC
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait agree to resume oil production in the shared Neutral Zone

Saudi ARAMCO said on Wednesday a new agreement between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait paves the way for the resumption of oil production in the Neutral (partitioned) Zone shared by the two countries.
Tuesday, December 24th 2019 - 09:59 UTC
Beijing pledges to purchase US$ 40bn of US agricultural products per year

China will make good on a pledge to purchase more than US$40 billion per year of U.S. agricultural products under the recently agreed Phase 1 trade deal between the two countries, China’s top agriculture consultancy said on Friday.