Stories for March 2015

Monday, March 2nd 2015 - 05:58 UTC
US economy slowdowns in last quarter, but for Wall Street it remains strong

The slowdown in the US economy at the end of last year was more pronounced than previously thought, official figures have shown. The world's largest economy grew at an annual pace of 2.2% between October and December, against a previous estimate of 2.6%, the Commerce Department said.
Monday, March 2nd 2015 - 05:42 UTC
First squid landings in Argentina 'acceptable', but mostly Small

The first landings of squid have been reported from Argentine ports and they seem 'acceptable', although there are concerns about the 'complex' market situation. Jiggers have spent 20/25 days in high seas to complete holds but most of squid is classified as 'small' with a minimum percentage of 'medium' in the last days of February. The catches refer to South of Parallel 44.
Monday, March 2nd 2015 - 05:35 UTC
Gibraltar police and customs given additional tobacco stop and search powers

Gibraltar police and customs officers have been given additional stop and search powers inside so-called tobacco ‘special zones’. Until now, officers required reasonable suspicion of a tobacco offence before they could stop vehicles and question the occupants.
Monday, March 2nd 2015 - 05:22 UTC
Argentine bond prices going up “as the less time you have left in office”

Joseph Cotterill, the Financial Times journalist who was quoted by Argentine President Cristina Fernández during her Congress address as proof the country has recovered financially, responded critically to the Head of State.
Monday, March 2nd 2015 - 01:24 UTC
Bilateral ceremony to certify that Chilean Tierra del Fuego is free of mines

Argentina and Chile on Monday will hold a ceremony certifying that the Chilean territory of Tierra del Fuego has been completely swept of mines, dating back to the late seventies, and in accordance with the 1999 Ottawa Convention commitments.
Monday, March 2nd 2015 - 01:14 UTC
Maduro retaliates and will demand visas from US citizens travelling to Venezuela

President Nicolas Maduro said his government had captured American citizens involved in “espionage activities,” and said US citizens in the future will have to seek visas to come to Venezuela. Speaking during a rally, he said his government will prohibit some US officials from entering Venezuela in retaliation for a similar measure by the government of President Barack Obama against a group of Venezuelan public officials.
Monday, March 2nd 2015 - 00:56 UTC
Bachelet visits 14-year-old girl who pled for euthanasia since she is suffering cystic fibrosis

Chile’s president went to a hospital on Saturday to meet with a 14-year-old girl who shocked the country by going on YouTube to plead for the leader to let doctors euthanize her because she is tired of her struggle with cystic fibrosis. The government quickly said no after the video began spreading on social media Thursday.
Sunday, March 1st 2015 - 23:35 UTC
Argentine technical mission to China to assess the purchase of jet fighters

It's official: in the coming weeks a technical delegation from Argentina's Air Force will be travelling to China to assess the convenience of purchasing Chinese jet fighters to replace the obsolete French made Mirages. Only a month ago president Cristina Fernandez was in Beijing where she sealed an “integral strategic alliance” with China.
Sunday, March 1st 2015 - 22:03 UTC
Brazil consumers' power bills increase an average 23.4% as of next Monday

Brazil's utilities were granted an average special rate hike of 23.4% to cover the costs of a energy subsidy program that the government of President Dilma Rousseff has decided to stop funding directly, the country's electrical energy system regulator said on Friday, as reported by Folha de Sao Paulo.