Stories for February 26th 2015

Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 23:21 UTC
Gibraltar's vital role for the US Navy's operations is underlined

Gibraltar plays a ‘vital’ role for the US Navy’s submarine operations at a time of increased Russian naval activity, a US think tank said. The Heritage Foundation made the statement in its Index of US Military Strength 2015, a wide-ranging annual research project that assesses the ability of the United States Armed Forces.
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 22:26 UTC
Anibal Fernandez calls Uruguayan former president Batlle a 'gorilla'

Argentina's Secretary General to the Presidency Anibal Fernández hit back to ex president of Uruguay Jorge Batlle who on Wednesday said Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez “hopes to be sacked from the government.”
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 22:15 UTC
Argentine cabinet reshuffle: Anibal Fernandez becomes chief of staff

Argentina named the president's chief of staff, Anibal Fernandez, as the new Cabinet chief on Thursday in a reshuffle that comes as the government faces a political crisis. Fernandez, a close political ally of President Cristina Fernandez, who is no relation, will replace Jorge Capitanich, the presidency said.
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 21:52 UTC
Judge dismisses case against Cristina Fernandez for alleged Iran cover up

Argentine federal judge Daniel Rafecas on Thursday dismissed the case against President Cristina Fernandez, in which it was claimed she, together with other officials conspired to spare Iranian officials from prosecution over the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires.
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 17:30 UTC
Is oil returning to 100 dollars or dropping to 10?

If you have been following the price of oil over the last few months, the chances are you're a little confused. On the one hand you have the likes of A. Gary Shilling who, in this Bloomberg article, loudly trumpets the prospect of oil at $10/Barrel, and on the other there is T. Boone Pickens, who, at the end of last year was predicting a return to $100 within 12-18 months.
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 05:26 UTC
Cristina Fernandez will complete her mandate, 'despite wanting to be kicked out'

Former Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle said that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez “wants to be kicked out of government”, replicating Argentine opposition comments.
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 05:17 UTC
Truckers strike is bringing Brazil and Rousseff's administration to its knees

The Brazilian government told truckers and transport companies late Wednesday it would extend a year of free financing for vehicles and pass a law that would benefit the sector if protesters ended a crippling strike now in its eighth day.
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 05:08 UTC
Protests continue throughout Venezuela despite a day of mourning

Sporadic protests flared in different parts of Venezuela after a policeman shot dead a teenager during a demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro's government in the volatile city of San Cristobal. The worst unrest was again in San Cristobal where distraught relatives of 14-year-old Kluibert Roa held a wake and funeral following his killing on Tuesday.
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 04:48 UTC
Rousseff lashes out at Moody's for downgrading Petrobras debt to junk-bonds

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday said credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service downgraded state-controlled oil giant Petrobras' debt to junk-bond territory due to ignorance of the company's situation.
Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 04:39 UTC
Filmus tours Central America in support of Argentina's Falklands' claim

Argentina's secretary for Issues relative to the Malvinas Islands Daniel Filmus visited this week Guatemala as part of a tour of Central America to promote the 'Malvinas cause' and collect support from regional governments and institutions.