Stories for April 2015

Wednesday, April 15th 2015 - 07:53 UTC
IMF estimates Argentine economy will contract 0.3% this year and expand 0.1% in 2016

The International Monetary Fund, IMF, cut its growth estimates for Argentina for this year forecasting a 0.3% contraction followed by a shy recovery of 0.1% in 2016, the first post-Kirchner year. The data is from the IMF World Economic Outlook released on Tuesday in Washington.
Wednesday, April 15th 2015 - 07:46 UTC
Brazil's economy expected to contract 1% as challenges remain unaddressed, says IMF report

The International Monetary Fund expects Brazil's economy to contract by one percent this year, it said Tuesday, slashing its previous forecast of 0.3% growth. The world's seventh-largest economy is being hit by inflation, private-sector doldrums and a massive corruption scandal at state oil giant Petrobras, the IMF said in its latest forecast.
Wednesday, April 15th 2015 - 07:37 UTC
Brazil raises estimates of corn and soybean harvests, helped by late rainfall

Brazil raised estimates for both its corn and soybean harvests, citing rains which had come in time to boost yields of later planted crops, besides boosting expectations for safrinha corn. The official Conab crop bureau lifted by 1.0m tons to 94.3m tons its estimate for Brazil's soybean production in 2014-15, as late rainfall helped results “surprise positively” in particular in central areas.
Wednesday, April 15th 2015 - 07:28 UTC
Cuba to be removed from terror sponsors' list, announced President Obama

The White House announced on Tuesday that President Obama intends to remove Cuba from the US government's list of nations that sponsor terrorism, eliminating a major obstacle to the restoration of diplomatic relations after decades of hostilities. The decision to remove Cuba from the list represents a crucial step in Obama’s effort to turn the page on a Cold War-era dispute.
Tuesday, April 14th 2015 - 22:39 UTC
UN extends to actor Daniel Craig “licence to save” as first advocate for elimination of landmines

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Tuesday the designation of renowned actor Daniel Craig as the first UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards. In a brief ceremony held at UN Headquarters, the Secretary-General thanked Mr. Craig for his commitment to support the UN’s vision of a world free from the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
Tuesday, April 14th 2015 - 18:35 UTC
China's exports/imports fall in March; trade surplus lowest in 13 years

China's monthly trade data shows exports fell in March from a year ago by 14.6% in Yuan terms, compared to expectations for a rise of more than 8%. Imports meanwhile fell 12.3% in Yuan terms compared to forecasts for a fall of more than 11%.
Tuesday, April 14th 2015 - 11:49 UTC
Falklands oil explorers replace costly drilling in the south-east basin

Three oil explorers drilling in the Falkland Islands, including Houston based Noble Energy have shelved plans to drill a second well in the south and east Falklands following the steep drop in oil prices, one of the partners said on Monday. Partners, which also include London-listed Falkland Oil and Gas (FOGL) and Edison International, said they would continue drilling in other parts of the region.
Tuesday, April 14th 2015 - 11:42 UTC
Argentina's Chief Justice urges “end to impunity” and peoples' frustration

Argentina's Chief Justice Ricardo Lorenzetti called on the judges and prosecutors to make a greater effort towards a transparent society and urged for an “end to impunity” and peoples' frustrations with the court system. He was speaking in reference to the ongoing investigation into special prosecutor's Alberto Nisman's death on 18 January.
Tuesday, April 14th 2015 - 11:29 UTC
Cuban-American Senator Rubio launches 2016 campaign for the White House

US Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio launched his presidential campaign at a rally on Monday in Miami, calling for a new era of American leadership that is not “stuck in the 20th century.”
Tuesday, April 14th 2015 - 11:19 UTC
Germany's greatest post WWII writer and Nobel Prize winner dies at 87

German novelist Günter Grass, the Nobel Prize-winning author of “The Tin Drum”, an epic treatment of the Nazi era, on Monday at the age of 87, his publishers said. A broad-shouldered man with a drooping mustache, Grass spurned the German tradition of keeping a cool intellectual distance, insisting that a writer's duty was to be at the frontline of moral and political debate.