Stories for September 2016

Friday, September 16th 2016 - 07:21 UTC
UK Overseas Territories Marine Protection Areas to double in four years

Speaking ahead of “Our Ocean” conference in Washington DC, Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan announced plans to double the area of ocean under marine protection around the UK Overseas Territories to around four million square kilometers, greater than the landmass of India.
Friday, September 16th 2016 - 07:06 UTC
Bank of England rates remain at record low, but could be further cut

The Bank of England said on Thursday it was still likely to cut interest rates to just above zero later this year, even though the initial Brexit hit to Britain's economy would be less severe than it expected only last month. The Bank said its nine rate-setters were unanimous in their decision to keep Bank Rate at its new record low of 0.25%, the lowest in the BoE's 322-year history.
Friday, September 16th 2016 - 06:55 UTC
Lula claims corruption charges are targeted to destroy him ahead of 2018 elections

Brazil's former president Lula da Silva defended himself against corruption charges Thursday, saying the case against him was an attempt to destroy him politically ahead of elections in 2018.Speaking a day after prosecutors accused him of masterminding a massive corruption scheme at state oil company Petrobras, the popular leader launched a wide-ranging defense of his career and legacy.
Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 20:54 UTC
Falklands' Development Corporation partners with horticultural specialists to expand commercial opportunities

The Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) announced that three UK horticultural specialists will visit the Falklands next month in order to appraise the potential for future horticultural developments. The three consultants will be the Islands for a week and will hope to identify profitable, commercial opportunities for Falkland businesses.
Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 10:40 UTC
Uruguay admits “consensus support” to remove Venezuela from Mercosur rotating chair

Uruguay's deputy foreign minister Jose Luis Cancela said that if Uruguay had not complied with the other Mercosur three founding members' joint declaration ignoring Venezuela's presidency and demanding it complies with the group's legislation and treaties, “Mercosur would have been launched into a period of full paralysis”.
Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 10:34 UTC
Falklands' Sea Lion oil project break-even price reduced to US$ 45 a barrel

Falkland Islands oil explorer Rockhopper Exploration Plc has confirmed cost cuts at its Sea Lion project, which will reduce the scheme´s break-even price to US$ 45 a barrel. Capital investment at Sea Lion to reach first oil is now estimated at US$ 1.5bn.
Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 10:30 UTC
Bayer and Monsanto confirm merger in a $66bnm mega-deal; activists ready to protest

Seed and chemical giants Bayer and Monsanto said on Wednesday that they will merge to become one of the world’s biggest agriculture giants, a 66 billion-dollar mega-deal that could reshape the future of farming and enhance their influence over the planet’s food supply.
Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 10:23 UTC
“After 15 years we are open for business” in Argentina announces US Ex-Im bank

The United States Export-Import Bank said it would begin offering financing in Argentina for the first time since the country's economic meltdown in 2001 and 2002. In previous decades the bank provided low-rate loans to support local investment, including the construction of one of the main highways leading into this city.
Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 10:18 UTC
Siemens pledges to invest US$ 5.6bn in energy and infrastructure in Argentina

German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to participate in up to US$5.6 billion of energy, transportation and infrastructure projects in Argentina, Chief Executive Joe Kaeser said.
Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 09:57 UTC
BP “really encouraged” by Argentina, interested in increasing investments

British Petroleum is looking to increase its investments in Argentina after seeing “tremendous change” in the country since President Mauricio Macri took office nine months ago, CEO Bob Dudley said on “Bloomberg Markets” this week. Argentina just “feels different,” Dudley told Bloomberg's Erik Schatzker at the inaugural Argentina Business Investment Forum in Buenos Aires.