Stories for April 2013

Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 07:04 UTC
Pinochet followers call Lady Thatcher an “extraordinary world stateswoman”

Followers of the late Chilean dictator Augusto Pinocher published two obituaries in the country’s leading newspaper expressing their condolences on the death of the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whom they describe as “an extraordinary stateswoman” and friend of Chile “in very difficult moments in recent history”
Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 07:00 UTC
Costa Cruises pay a million Euros fine to dismiss criminal charges

Costa Cruises accepted a one million Euros fine as part of a settlement with the Italian government that would dismiss possible criminal charges for last year's ‘Costa Concordia’ shipwreck, which killed 32 people.
Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 06:55 UTC
Some Fed members want to close the bond-purchase program ‘relatively soon’

The US Federal Reserve could slow the pace of its bond-purchase program this year if the jobs market continues to improve, according to the minutes of the last FOMC meeting released Wednesday.
Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 06:38 UTC
When oil is involved, compromise is key

By Terry Karl (*) - The death of Margaret Thatcher will not change the necessity for or the timing of negotiations on the Falklands/Malvinas issue. This political football has re-emerged repeatedly – regardless of the leaders in power – usually for domestic reasons in both Argentina and the United Kingdom. There is little political will for a settlement in the short-term on either side, especially now that offshore oil is publicly and definitively in the picture.
Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 02:54 UTC
Parliament pays tribute to Lady Thatcher but there were also critical voices

Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday paid tribute to Baroness Thatcher as an “extraordinary leader and an extraordinary woman”. Cameron told the British parliament at the start of a specially convened session the former prime minister “defined and overcame the great challenges of her age”.
Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 02:35 UTC
Falkland Islands without Thatcher in The New York Times Room for Debate

The New York Times has introduced a new section called The Opinion Pages, Room for Debate and this week’s theme was “The Falkland Islands without Thatcher”. For that purpose it invited six opinions related to the issue.
Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 02:26 UTC
Uruguay becomes second Latam country to legalize gay marriage

The Uruguayan parliament voted overwhelmingly to legalise gay marriage, becoming the second country in Latin America to do so, after Argentina. The bill was approved by more than two-thirds of the lower chamber, despite opposition from the Catholic Church.
Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 00:39 UTC
YPF forced to import more fuel following fire in La Plata refinery

Argentina’s state oil and gas company YPF CEO Miguel Galuccio announced that fuel production could drop 7% because of a fire at its refinery in La Plata. A return to full operations at the 180.000 bpd facility is expected in 30-45 days time.
Thursday, April 11th 2013 - 00:35 UTC
Falklands’ oil company completes 3D seismic program and is planning next drilling campaign

Borders & Southern announced this week it has completed the 3D seismic program in the South Falkland Basin offshore the Falkland Islands. The group acquired 1,025 sq km of full fold seismic data collected by the ‘Ramform Challenger’, which will be processed by Petroleum Geo-Services.
Wednesday, April 10th 2013 - 23:17 UTC
Election year fever in Argentina: fuel price freeze and lower interests on bank arrears

Election fever in Argentina: the administration of President Cristina Fernandez froze the price of gasoline and diesel sold at service stations for six months and convinced banks to cut interest payments on arrears. Last month supermarket chains and other suppliers agreed to extend the current price freeze.