Stories for March 26th 2015

Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 15:40 UTC
Top Gear's Clarkson sacked; BBC admits the decision would “divide opinion”

Jeremy Clarkson's contract will not be renewed after an “unprovoked physical attack” on a Top Gear producer, the BBC's director general has confirmed. Tony Hall said he had “not taken this decision lightly” and recognized it would “divide opinion”, but he emphasized that “a line has been crossed” and he “cannot condone what has happened on this occasion”.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 14:41 UTC
Falklands' main import trading partner is the UK with 87% of all goods

The United Kingdom is the main import trading partner of the Falkland Islands with 87% of all imported goods coming from the UK in 2012 (Customs and Immigration 2013) with the rest imported mostly from Chile and Uruguay, according to the latest report on the Falklands' “State of the Economy”.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 09:46 UTC
North Chile heavy rain and flash flooding forces suspension of world's largest copper mines

Heavy rains in Chile's northern desert regions have caused mudslides and rivers to breach their banks, leaving residents stranded and forcing top copper miner Codelco to suspend mining operations.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 09:30 UTC
Timerman rejects Iran cover-up claims and again supports the MoU signed with Teheran

Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman has rejected the cover-up accusations made by Alberto Nisman before the AMIA special prosecutor was found dead in his Buenos Aires City apartment more than two months ago under unclear circumstances.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 09:20 UTC
Argentina considers Citigroup deal with US Judge Griesa could have violated local law

Argentina's Economy Minister Axel Kicillof said on Wednesday a deal between Citigroup Inc and U.S. judge Thomas Griesa allowing the banking giant to process two Argentine debt payments violated the country's laws.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 09:07 UTC
Brazil central bank will cease forex intervention program as of April

Brazil's central bank announced on Tuesday it will not extend its currency intervention program past March 31 as a combination of political problems at home and fears of higher U.S. interest rates push the Real near its lowest levels in a decade. The bank will, however, roll over all swaps expiring after May 1.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 08:34 UTC
Majority of Brazilians favor impeaching President Rousseff; opposition leaders resist the move

A majority of Brazilians favor impeaching President Dilma Rousseff due to the economic slump and a snowballing corruption scandal at state-run oil company Petrobras, according to a poll released this week. But despite calls for Rousseff's ouster and recent street demonstrations against her government, opposition leaders have resisted pushing for impeachment and say it is unlikely.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 08:22 UTC
Griesa blocks Euroclear from processing any Argentina bonds payments

New York judge Thomas Griesa on Wednesday barred Euroclear, the giant Belgium-based financial clearing and settlement house, from processing any debt payments by Argentina. In the newest step tightening Buenos Aires' avenues for avoiding paying off hedge funds on their bonds, Griesa forbade Euroclear from processing “any payments received from any source” in respect to Argentine bonds.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 08:02 UTC
Falklands reassured by UK commitment to defense and by House support

The Falkland Islands elected Legislative Assembly welcomed the statement of Secretary of Defense before the House of Commons and said it was reassuring that the UK government remains committed to the defense of the Islands, and equally significant the strong support received by the secretary from members of Parliament.
Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 07:48 UTC
Falklands' defense expenditure increase' will be taken before the UN, says Argentina

Argentina will take the United Kingdom before the United Nations Decolonization Committee following London's announcement it was increasing expenditure on the Falkland Islands defense, said Foreign minister Hector Timerman on Wednesday.