Stories for January 2015

Thursday, January 29th 2015 - 07:23 UTC
Petrobras releases long delayed 3Q results but did not include reserves for corruption scandal

Brazil’s embattled Petrobras released its long delayed third quarter results Wednesday but did not include any reserves tied to an ongoing corruption scandal that has already landed three former executives in jail. The company recorded a third quarter 2014 net profit of 1.18 billion dollars, down from 1.32 billion during the same period last year.
Thursday, January 29th 2015 - 07:17 UTC
Consumer confidence in Brazil drops in January to its lowest

The reading of consumer confidence dropped in Brazil in January--to its lowest level ever--as the country's economy struggled. Brazil's main consumer-confidence index was at 89.8 points in January, down from 96.2 points in December, the Getulio Vargas Foundation, or FGV, said earlier this week.
Thursday, January 29th 2015 - 07:03 UTC
Chilean Senate approves civil union of homosexual couples

The Chilean Senate has passed the Civil Union Agreement (AUC) bill, which legalizes the civil union between homosexual couples, making Chile the seventh country in South America to establish such unions.
Thursday, January 29th 2015 - 06:53 UTC
Fidel Castro in “good health and feels great admiration for Pope Francis”

Fidel Castro is in good health and feels “deep admiration” for Pope Francis, Brazilian intellectual Frei Betto said on Wednesday a day after meeting with Cuba's former president. He and Fidel discussed a wide range of subjects and the 88-year-old leader of the Cuban Revolution remains “very optimistic,” Betto told reporters in Havana.
Thursday, January 29th 2015 - 06:32 UTC
Raul Castro demands the return of Guantanamo and compensation for US trade embargo

Cuban President Raul Castro demanded on Wednesday that the United States return the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, lift the half-century trade embargo on Cuba and compensate his country for damages before the two nations re-establish normal relations.
Thursday, January 29th 2015 - 06:15 UTC
Only family and friends at AMIA prosecutor Nisman's wake

A wake for Argentina's AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman was held Wednesday afternoon in a ceremony with his family and friends. His body will be buried Thursday at the Tablada Israeli Cemetery, the Jewish News Agency (AJN) reported.
Wednesday, January 28th 2015 - 08:04 UTC
Cristina Fernandez speech was made to 'distract attention' claims Argentine opposition

Argentina's Lower House opposition caucus leaders have rejected the proposed dissolution of the Intelligence Secretariat (SI, formerly known as SIDE), announced Monday evening by President Cristina Fernández, as they consider it was made to “distract attention” from the death of AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman.
Wednesday, January 28th 2015 - 07:53 UTC
Argentine Jewish community demand the true causes of Nisman's death be investigated

The leaders of Argentina's main Jewish organizations, AMIA and DAIA strongly criticized the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Iran by the administration of President Cristina Fernandez and demanded that “the true causes” of special prosecutor Alberto Nisman be thoroughly investigated.
Wednesday, January 28th 2015 - 07:47 UTC
Relief for Bachelet: Chilean Congress passes ambitious education reform

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday her government was preparing the second phase of an ambitious education reform, hours after Congress approved the first set of changes.
Wednesday, January 28th 2015 - 07:40 UTC
Rousseff calls on fractious cabinet to embrace belt-tightening to restore growth

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has urged her cabinet to embrace fiscal belt-tightening and other measures aimed at restoring business confidence and growth in her second term.