Stories for December 9th 2014

Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 23:42 UTC
Former Roma mayor accused of laundering 'suticases full of money' in Argentina

A mafia corruption investigation into alleged wrongdoing by the former mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, stretched all the way across the Atlantic to Argentina, following reports in the Italian media that the right-wing politician visited Patagonia three years ago, accompanied by his son, with “suitcases full” of undeclared money.
Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 23:08 UTC
Despite Petrobras corruption, Rousseff has strong public opinion support

Seven out of ten Brazilians believe President Dilma Rousseff has some responsibility in the Petrobras corruption scandal, which involves contractors and politicians, according to a public opinion poll from Datafolha, conducted on Dec. 2 and 3, including 2,896 interviews and published by Folha de Sao Paulo.
Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 23:03 UTC
Mercosur lacks discipline and has become a 'straitjacket' for trade negotiations

Mercosur must discipline and return to its origin as a customs union since it has become a 'straitjacket' for negotiations with other regional blocks, according to Lia Valls, foreign trade coordinator at the Brazilian Economics Institute belonging to the prestigious thinktank Getulio Vargas foundation.
Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 08:52 UTC
“Kicillof's economy post still too big for him, but he has changed a lot in a year”

The head of the Argentina's powerful manufacturing lobby, UIA, Hector Mendez fired harsh words against Economy Minister Axel Kicillof stressing “his post is still too big for him”, but admitted he 'has advanced' in the last twelve months.
Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 08:26 UTC
The man in charge of fighting corruption in Brazil resigns: “I've done my duty”

Comptroller General Jorge Hage, the man in charge of fighting corruption in the Brazilian government, announced his resignation amid a widening graft scandal centered on state-run oil company Petrobras. Hage said he sent President Dilma Rousseff his resignation letter a few weeks ago, after she won re-election for a second term in office.
Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 07:52 UTC
Wealth redistribution and inequality at its highest in OECD countries

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found that the divide between the richest 10 percent and poorest 10 percent in many of the world's wealthiest countries - including Germany, US and UK - has been growing. In a report released Monday, OECD said that this, in turn, had caused growth to slow.
Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 07:44 UTC
'Guantanamo inmates will be out in Montevideo streets after medical checkups'

“Once the medical checkups are over they'll be out of the Military Hospital and walking in the streets of Montevideo as any other refugee or immigrant” said Uruguayan Defense minister Eleuterio Fernadez Huidobro on Monday in reference to the Guantanamo inmates that arrived on Sunday morning.
Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 07:38 UTC
World's main oilfield services provider drastically reducing size of marine seismic fleet

Schlumberger Ltd, the world's No.1 oilfield services provider, said it was reducing the size of its marine seismic fleet to lower costs as it expects customers to cut exploration spending.
Tuesday, December 9th 2014 - 07:18 UTC
Chile plans to build a new icebreaker and has earmarked an initial 150 million

Chile is planning a strong expansion of its Antarctic and maritime support vessels as well as a major repair yard, according to a recent pledge by President Michelle Bachelet during the opening of the Exponaval and Trans-Port exhibitions in Valparaiso and Viña del Mar.