Stories for December 2019

Wednesday, December 18th 2019 - 08:58 UTC
Brazilian investigative journalism unveils cracks in a tailings' dam, like the one that burst a year ago killing hundreds

State prosecutors in Brazil have identified cracks in a tailings dam owned by iron ore mining company Vale SA and have asked the firm to hire an independent auditor to look into the matter, a television station reported on Friday night.
Wednesday, December 18th 2019 - 08:49 UTC
UN Decolonization Committee C24 on a visiting mission to Montserrat

The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, currently chaired by Keisha Aniya McGuire (Grenada), is on a visiting mission to the Caribbean island of Montserrat until Friday 20 December, while also holding meetings in Antigua and Barbuda.
Wednesday, December 18th 2019 - 08:43 UTC
Brazilians angry with a Netflix comedy depicting Jesus as a gay man

A comedy on Netflix depicting Jesus as a gay man has prompted widespread anger in Brazil with almost 2 million people signing a petition calling on the streaming service to remove the film.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 23:54 UTC
Argentine farmers reject increase in export taxes, but privilege dialogue

Argentine farmers are disappointed with the new taxes on farm produce exports decreed by government, and particularly with president Alberto Fernandez who had promised during the campaign to work with them in developing policies.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 09:59 UTC
Brazilian government dismisses as a “commercial game” results of COP25 climate talks in Madrid

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic, dismissed as a “commercial game” the result of the COP25 climate talks in Madrid. He particularly singled out rich European nations as the players.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 09:52 UTC
Netanyahu says Bolsonaro's son anticipated Brazil would move its embassy to Jerusalem next year

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Brazil will follow the United States and move its embassy to Jerusalem next year. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has expressed before his intention of moving his country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but senior officials later backtracked for fear of damaging trade ties with Arab countries.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 09:52 UTC
“God, a fellow Brazilian”, helped Jair Bolsonaro become president

President Jair Bolsonaro said God, a fellow Brazilian, had handed him the election victory that propelled him to office in South America's largest economy.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 09:51 UTC
Maduro's court opens criminal cases against four opposition lawmakers

Venezuela's Supreme Court opened criminal cases Monday against four National Assembly lawmakers opposed to President Nicolas Maduro, accusing them of rebellion and treason for their part in a failed military uprising.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 09:51 UTC
Mexico rejects US labor inspectors: they are not included in the USMCA trade pact

Mexico’s trade negotiator for North America said that Mexico categorically opposes allowing foreign labor inspectors to operate in the country, saying that was not contemplated in the recent agreement with Washington and Ottawa on the USMCA pact to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 09:47 UTC
Strong warning from Chilean cruise industry representatives to port officials

Chilean cruise operators have sent a letter to the administrators of the port of San Antonio warning that if the intermittent service stoppages continue the companies they represent will have to take drastic measures. The current social turmoil and upheaval which has expanded to most of the country are distorting the normal functioning of the economy.