Stories for February 2015

Wednesday, February 11th 2015 - 05:54 UTC
The New York Times: How Argentina ‘Suicides’ the Truth

By Uki Goñi - Political “suicides” are so common in Argentina that a special word has been invented for them. Ask different people in Buenos Aires today and they may disagree whether the crusading prosecutor Alberto Nisman was murdered or took his own life. But most everyone will concur that Mr. Nisman was “suicided,” the latest victim of a dark-power centrifuge that with sinister regularity spews out dead bodies in this divided nation.
Wednesday, February 11th 2015 - 05:30 UTC
“Our democracy is young, but nor fragile” ambassador Castro tells the FT

Following the publication of an article in the British press under the heading of “Democracy in Argentina dented by mysterious murder”, Argentine ambassador in London Alicia Castro, sent a letter to the editor of the Financial Times basically arguing that “our democracy is young, but not fragile” and describing the article as “most groundless and offensive” accusation.
Tuesday, February 10th 2015 - 23:58 UTC
Venezuela announces yet another concealed devaluation, effective Wednesday

Venezuela's vice president for economic policy announced Tuesday that the government will inaugurate this week a three-tiered exchange-rate regime which includes a “totally free” market open to both individuals and companies.
Tuesday, February 10th 2015 - 19:27 UTC
Falklands' familiarization visit for UK ambassadors from Brazil, Chile and Uruguay

British ambassadors to Chile, Brazil and Uruguay respectively, Fiona Clouder, Alex Ellis and Ben Lyster-Binns are currently visiting the Falkland Islands to familiarise themselves with the people and economy and to discover what opportunities there are to increase links between the Islands and their host countries.
Tuesday, February 10th 2015 - 05:56 UTC
Argentina declassifies documents on disappearance of Swedish teenager in 1977

Argentina's foreign ministry is releasing 'secret documents' related to the kidnapping and disappearance of the Swedish teenager Dagmar Hagelin in 1977 during the last military dictatorship, and which at the time crated a longstanding serious diplomatic rift between the two countries.
Tuesday, February 10th 2015 - 05:45 UTC
S&P downgrades Venezuela long term credit rating to CCC

Ratings agency Standard and Poor's on Monday downgraded Venezuelan long-term credit ratings to CCC from CCC+, citing falling oil prices and the government's failure to address economic distortions.
Tuesday, February 10th 2015 - 05:40 UTC
Foreign Secretary Hammond opens first FCO “Diplomatic Academy”

United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will open the Diplomatic Academy in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Tuesday 10th February. The Academy, the first in the Foreign Office’s history, will be a centre of excellence and has been established to equip Foreign Office staff with the essential skills for diplomacy in the modern world.
Tuesday, February 10th 2015 - 05:35 UTC
Falklands pensions' scheme receives top qualification from UK HM Revenue & Customs

The Falklands Islands Pensions Board is pleased to announce that HM Revenue & Customs in the United Kingdom has approved the Falkland Islands Pensions Scheme (FIPS) as a Qualifying Recognized Overseas Pensions Scheme (QROPS).
Tuesday, February 10th 2015 - 03:51 UTC
Falkland Islands Holdings David Hudd steps down; new chairman is Edmund Rowland

Falkland Islands Holdings chairman David Hudd has resigned from the board with immediate effect and been succeeded by non-executive deputy chairman Edmund Rowland, it was reported on Monday. John Foster continues as group managing director.
Monday, February 9th 2015 - 17:41 UTC
FARC vows to lay down arms and to reinvent itself as a political party

Colombian FARC guerrillas on Saturday vowed to lay down their weapons and reinvent themselves as a political party, if the Colombian government follows through with the reforms under discussion in peace talks.