Stories for February 2015

Tuesday, February 3rd 2015 - 06:49 UTC
Brazil's nominal budget deficit far worse than expected, 6.7% of GDP

Brazil's federal, state and local governments ended 2014 with a cumulative primary budget deficit equivalent to 12.51 billion dollars putting public finances in the red for the first time since the current reporting methodology was adopted in 2001, the Central Bank announced.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2015 - 06:35 UTC
Brazil's Lower House elects as speaker a critic of President Rousseff's policies

Brazil's Congress elected a conservative as speaker of the Chamber of Deputies on Sunday in a setback for the ruling Workers' Party that split President Dilma Rousseff's coalition and will complicate her legislative agenda.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2015 - 06:22 UTC
Judges decline to handle Nisman's allegations against Cristina Fernandez

Two judges on Monday declined to handle the allegations brought by late prosecutor Alberto Nisman against Argentina's president, charging her with seeking to derail his investigation of the deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2015 - 06:14 UTC
Obama's 4 trillion budget gives priority to the middle class and infrastructure

President Barack Obama's 2016 budget unveiled Monday sets priorities for the middle class and proposes major infrastructure improvements, to be paid for largely through increased contributions by the wealthy and corporate America.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2015 - 00:10 UTC
Falklands' oil drilling program confirmed; rig from Western Africa on its way

Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd has confirmed that the Eirik Raude rig has commenced mobilization from West Africa to the Falkland Islands for the 2015 drilling program, which will be operated by Premier Oil and Noble Energy.
Monday, February 2nd 2015 - 03:49 UTC
Uruguay's new administration after more open and frank relations with Mercosur

Career diplomats at key embassies, a more frank approach in talks with Mercosur, closer links with Israel and any free trade option with the United States remains frozen, anticipated Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Uruguay's next foreign minister as of next March first when the new administration takes office.
Monday, February 2nd 2015 - 03:46 UTC
“Good cruise season” for Punta Arenas with some 60.000 visitors

Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile is expecting some 60.000 visitors this cruise season (2014/15) according to estimates from the local port authority Empresa Portuaria Austral, EPA, which is considered a 'good season' and an improvement over previous years.
Sunday, February 1st 2015 - 23:51 UTC
Falklands' community enjoys 250th anniversary celebrations

Saturday 31st January saw the culmination of a week of celebrations in the Falkland Islands commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Union Flag being raised on Saunders Island. Commodore John Byron placed the flag in 1765 signifying the start of British rule in the Falkland Islands.
Sunday, February 1st 2015 - 22:41 UTC
Celebrations for 150th anniversary of Welsh settlements in Argentine Patagonia

Argentine Ambassador in the United Kingdom, Alicia Castro, and the Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, who will visit Argentina this year, jointly inaugurated in Cardiff celebrations commemorating the settlement of the Welsh in Argentina in 1865. Several activities have been planned both in Patagonia and Wales to celebrate the 150th anniversary.
Sunday, February 1st 2015 - 22:32 UTC
Chancellor Osborne announces new shipbuilding strategy for the Royal Navy

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced at Portsmouth Naval Base a new national shipbuilding strategy in advance of a decision later this year on orders for the brand new Type 26 Global Combat Ship. The Chancellor also announced that these multi-million pound ships will be based at the Navy bases in Portsmouth and Plymouth.