Stories for December 2011

Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:34 UTC
Buenos Aires City becomes 100% smoke-free in public places

The City of Buenos Aires put forth the steps to become 100% smoke-free, after amendments were made to the anti-tobacco laws, totally prohibiting the use of smoking areas in restaurants and bars in Argentina’s capital.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:22 UTC
Uruguay fearing inflation drastically rises basic rate 75 points to 8.75%

Uruguay’s central bank unexpectedly increased on Friday its benchmark interest rate by 75 points from 8% to 8.75%o as policy makers admit inflation, and mid term expectations remain notoriously over the target range and price stability is the main concern in “the current socio-economic context”.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:17 UTC
Forest fire in Torres del Pain out of control because of the strong winds

Chile declared on Friday “catastrophe zone” the extreme south province of Ultima Esperanza where a forest fire, so far out of control, has ravaged over 9.000 hectares of pristine flora from the Torres del Paine national park.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:10 UTC
Rockhopper completes sidetracking of its latest well in Falklands’ waters

Rockhopper Exploration, the oil and gas group working in the Falkland Islands announced on Friday it has completed coring and logging operations on a sidetrack of its latest well in the North Falkland Basin
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:36 UTC
Uruguay suggests changing to the red ensign for Falklands’ vessels to operate in Montevideo

No changes are needed in current legislation to bar vessels flying the Malvinas flag from entering Uruguayan ports, but Uruguay also speculates that if the vessels change to the English flag there will be no problems, according to a report from the Foreign Affairs ministry.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:28 UTC
Argentine ambassador who ignores basic facts on the Falklands takes office in Washington

Ambassador Jorge Argüello arrived Thursday to Washington and immediately began activities as head of the Argentine embassy before the US with a first round of talks with members of his staff, according to a release from the embassy.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:24 UTC
Lan Argentina protests barring of its operations from Buenos Aires metropolitan air terminal

Lan Chile airlines admitted on Thursday before the Chilean Securities and Exchange Commission that the decision by the Argentina’s Civil Aviation authority, ANAC, to revoke Lan Argentina flight authorizations to Brazil, Paraguay and Chile from Buenos Aires metropolitan airport Jorge Newbery “would not have a relevant financial impact for Lan Airlines at consolidated level
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:17 UTC
Organized labour relations with President Cristina Fernandez are ‘all suspended’

“There are no contacts at all of any kind with the government, they have been all suspended” said on Thursday the Deputy Secretary of the Argentine powerful teamsters union Pablo Moyano when asked about current relations between organized labour and the administration of President Cristina Fernandez.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:07 UTC
Riots and institutional crisis in Cristina Fernandez Santa Cruz province

Argentine President Cristina Fernández had to postpone on Thursday plans to fly to Santa Cruz where she is planning to spend New Year’s Eve with her son and daughter, following an institutional crisis and street rioting that left at least 23 injured and the resignation of several top posts in the provincial administration.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:03 UTC
New York Times major blooper sends e-mails to 8 million instead of 300 people

Some 8 million people received emails from the New York Times on Thursday offering a special discount if they would reconsider their decision to cancel their subscriptions.