Politics

• Friday, December 30th 2016 - 03:48 UTC

  Ceasefire between Syria and rebels effective since midnight, but gunshots already reported

  

  A ceasefire between Syria's government and rebel forces started at midnight on Friday after nearly six years of civil war. The agreement, brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides in the conflict, got off to a dubious start as clashes had already been reported less than two hours after the truce's beginning.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 22:51 UTC

  Obama's gov't expels 35 Russian diplomats - Moscow to take reciprocal steps

  

  The government of the United States Thursday expelled 35 Russian diplomats from Washington and San Francisco, US Department of State said in an official statement. Meanwhile, lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov, who is Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council's (Parliamantary Upper House) warned that “reciprocal steps will be made with regards to the U.S. embassy in Moscow and, quite possibly, the consulates will be cut down in size as well.” In any case, it is believed that this decision “will destroy diplomatic relations” between the two countries, as one Kremlin source put it.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 22:28 UTC

  Whereabouts of Greek Ambassador to Brazil unknown since Monday

  

  Local police said in a statement on Thursday that Greece's ambassador to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis, has been last seen Monday night in Nova Iguacu, 40 kilometers northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 19:58 UTC

  Falklands' fisheries and oil issues must be discussed with the Argentine congress, warns lawmaker Carrió

  

  All issues linked to fisheries and hydrocarbons in the Falklands/Malvinas must be discussed and approved by Congress, warned Argentina's chair of the foreign affairs committee adding that if necessary the officials involved, who ignore the legislative will be summoned and sacked with a no confidence vote and political trial.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 19:02 UTC

  Filipino President Duterte threatens to throw corrupt officials off a helicopter

  

  “If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out. I have done this before. Why would I not do it again?,” said Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte during a speech to victims of a typhoon on Tuesday, a clip of which was posted later on a video feed.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 11:36 UTC

  Uruguay indifferent to the death of the country's last military dictator

  

  Former General Gregorio Alvarez, the last leader of Uruguay’s dictatorship, 1973/1984, died in Montevideo on Wednesday while serving a prison sentence for human rights abuses. He was 91. The military’s health service said he died at the Central Hospital of the Armed Forces. He was buried in a private ceremony on Wednesday.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 06:38 UTC

  Macri unharmed as protesters throw stones at his vehicle - Seven arrested.

  

  Seven protesters were arrested for throwing stones during a protest at the vehicle in which Argentine President Mauricio Macri was traveling through the southern city of Villa Traful in the province of Neuquen. The stones broke the minivan's glasses but nobody inside was hurt, it was reported.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 05:44 UTC

  Almost nothing to be named after Fidel to avoid cult of personality in Cuba

  

  Cuban lawmakers Tuesday passed a bill whereby nothing shall bear the name of the late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who passed away November 25 last. No monuments or buildings shall be erected in his honour either.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 05:22 UTC

  Milagro Sala gets 3-year suspended sentence but remains in preventive custody on other charges

  

  Tupac Amaru group leader Milagro Sala was handed Wednesday a 3-year jail sentence by a Federal court in Jujuy for aggravated damage during an “escrache” protest against then national Senator Gerardo Morales in 2009 at the Professional Council of Economic Sciences in the provincial capital San Salvador de Jujuy. Sala also benefitted from a statute of limitations which rendered the threat charges void. Morales is now Governor of Jujuy.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2016 - 21:16 UTC

  “Real opportunities” from Brexit forecasts ex Bank of England governor

  

  Lord King, the former governor of the Bank of England, has said that the UK should be “self-confident” about leaving the European Union since there were “real opportunities” for economic reform and new trade deals which meant Brexit could be a success. He highlighted agricultural reform and a developing relationship with the Republic of Ireland as areas where the UK could be positive.