Stories for October 2016

Friday, October 21st 2016 - 08:15 UTC
Euro central bank leaves rates and stimulus program unchanged

The European Central Bank left its key interest rates and its bond-buying stimulus program unchanged on Thursday as it seeks more data on the strength of Europe’s modest economic recovery. The decision came at a meeting of the bank’s 25 member governing council at its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.
Friday, October 21st 2016 - 08:06 UTC
García-Margallo claims “confidential” talks on co-sovereignty with Gibraltar personalities

Spain’s caretaker Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García-Margallo, claimed that he had held “confidential” talks on co-sovereignty with “personalities” in Gibraltar. However the minister gave no indication as to who he had spoken to, according to Spanish press reports.
Friday, October 21st 2016 - 07:29 UTC
Falklands' military exercises trigger protests in Buenos Aires against Macri and UK embassy

Extreme left wing organizations protested on Thursday outside Britain's embassy in Buenos Aires against UK military exercises which are being carried out in the disputed Falkland Islands. The groups also slammed the Argentine government's pursuit of closer ties with the United Kingdom.
Friday, October 21st 2016 - 02:56 UTC
Brazilian central bank lowers basic rate 0.25 points on more optimistic recovery data

Brazil's central bank cut its key interest rate for the first time in more than three years on Wednesday as a new center-right government's reforms fuel hopes of a recovery in Latin America's largest economy. The bank lowered the benchmark Selic rate by 0.25 points, to 14%, still one of the world's highest, and cited a dip in inflation and forecasts that a long recession -- Brazil's worst in a century -- is nearing its end.
Thursday, October 20th 2016 - 21:23 UTC
Mini cabinet reshuffle in Chile ahead of Sunday's municipal elections

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced a slight reshuffling of her Cabinet on Wednesday, a few days ahead of local elections in which her coalition is expected to suffer losses. Center-left Bachelet replaced the ministers in charge of justice, energy and national assets, she said in a brief speech at the presidential palace in Santiago.
Thursday, October 20th 2016 - 21:11 UTC
Brazilians reject fiscal discipline policy, and consider Temer's government “bad” or “terrible”

Brazilians have become more dissatisfied with the way President Michel Temer is running their country, a new poll says, as his policy of fiscal discipline continues to generate more public discontent.
Thursday, October 20th 2016 - 21:05 UTC
Brazilian ex lawmaker who triggered fall of Rousseff arrested, and promises a “tell-all memoir”

The corruption-related arrest of a former top Brazilian lawmaker on Wednesday threatens to revive political turmoil and snap the momentum of a government economic reform campaign. Eduardo Cunha was taken into police custody Wednesday on accusations of corruption and money laundering related to oil platform contracts with state-controlled Petrobras. He denies the accusations.
Thursday, October 20th 2016 - 20:31 UTC
Argentine navy admits testing refurbished Exocet missiles and torpedoes last February

The Argentine ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Navy was involved in military exercises in the high seas last February including firing an upgraded version of MM38 Exocet missiles and trials with a refurbished torpedo from a submarine, reports the Buenos Aires media.
Thursday, October 20th 2016 - 12:50 UTC
Strong reactions from Andalucía and London to Garcia Margallo Gibraltar shared sovereignty rhetoric

The Junta de Andalucia has distanced itself from Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel García Margallo’s joint sovereignty proposal for Gibraltar. Miguel Angel Vasquez says now is not the time to use inflammatory rhetoric or to talk about joint sovereignty.
Thursday, October 20th 2016 - 08:50 UTC
Women take to the streets in Buenos Aires to protest wave of gender violence

Dressed in black, Argentine women took to the streets to protest the brutal rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl, the latest incident of gender violence to shock the country. Others walked off the job as a sign of protest, in what was described as women's first national strike. Similar demonstrations took place in solidarity in many Latin American cities from Montevideo to Mexico City.