Stories for December 2019

Wednesday, December 4th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Brazil celebrates: 0.6% expansion in third quarter: rebound of agriculture and industry

Brazil's economy expanded in the third quarter at its fastest pace since early last year, official data showed on Tuesday, with 0.6% growth over the previous quarter driven by a strong performance in agriculture and a sharp rebound in the industry.
Wednesday, December 4th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
Huge national strike challenges Macron's pension system overhaul

Trains cancelled, schools closed: France scrambled to make contingency plans on Tuesday for a huge strike against pension overhauls that poses one of the biggest challenges yet to President Emmanuel Macron's sweeping reform drive.
Wednesday, December 4th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
Trump promises to stay out of Britain's election, “ I don't want to complicate it”

President Donald Trump on Tuesday promised to “stay out” of Britain's election campaign during a two-day visit, while also seeking to defuse a key attack line against British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over healthcare.
Wednesday, December 4th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
Rare Gauguin painting from his time in Tahiti fetches €9.5 million

A rare canvas by French artist Paul Gauguin from his time in Tahiti fetched €9.5 million (US$10.5 million) in Paris on Tuesday, nearly twice its estimated value, the auction house said.
Tuesday, December 3rd 2019 - 09:50 UTC
Uruguay president elect hopes pragmatism prevails over ideology in Mercosur

Mercosur faces a tense future, the president-elect of Uruguay said on Monday, referring to a diplomatic spat between regional heavyweight economies Brazil and Argentina. Brazil’s right-wing leader Jair Bolsonaro and Argentina’s incoming leader, left-leaning Peronist Alberto Fernandez, have sparred openly.
Tuesday, December 3rd 2019 - 09:48 UTC
Cristina Kirchner accuses the Judiciary and media of demonizing leaders of popular democratic governments

Argentina's ex-president Cristina Kirchner arrived in court on Monday to give evidence in a corruption trial in which she is charged with diverting public funds, just a week before she returns to the country's government as vice president.
Tuesday, December 3rd 2019 - 09:45 UTC
Brazilian unemployment statistically stable at 11.6% in the Aug/Oct quarter

Brazil's unemployment rate fell to 11.6% in the quarter ending in October, from 11.8% in the quarter ending in July, the country's Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) announced. The rate also fell slightly, compared with the same period of 2018 when it was at 11.7%.
Tuesday, December 3rd 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Mexican women shocked and furious over a femicide and a lenient magistrate

A former head of Amazon Mexico is wanted for questioning after his wife was apparently killed by a hitman in Mexico City. Abril Pérez Sagaón was shot dead in a car on Monday in front of two of her teenage children.
Tuesday, December 3rd 2019 - 09:35 UTC
New Falklands Books: The Falkland Islands Journal 2019

Ian Strange, who died in September 2018 aged 84, was a naturalist, accomplished wildlife artist and photographer who championed wildlife conservation in the Falkland Islands from the early 1960s.
Tuesday, December 3rd 2019 - 09:18 UTC
Antarctica Day celebrates the signature of the Antarctic Treaty, 1st December 1959

Antarctica Day was inaugurated in 2010 to celebrate the 1st December 1959 signature of the Antarctic Treaty, which was adopted “with the interests of science and the progress of all mankind.” Antarctica Day was initiated by the Foundation for the Good Governance of International Spaces as an annual event to build global awareness of this landmark institution, celebrating this milestone of peace in our civilization with hope and inspiration for future generations.