Stories for August 20th 2015

Thursday, August 20th 2015 - 07:30 UTC
Pope Francis quashes any attempt to foster Falklands/Malvinas dialogue

Pope Francis was sucked into Argentina's dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands after an activist thrust a sign in his hands calling for dialogue between the two countries and President Cristina Fernandez jumped on the opportunity to rekindle the fight.
Thursday, August 20th 2015 - 07:28 UTC
Argentine and Chilean navies in Beagle channel joint sea and air exercise

Argentina and Chile are holding their annual joint naval exercise in the Beagle channel, in the framework of the 1984 Friendship Treaty, to test their combined sea an air capabilities in the region. This includes emergency and humanitarian situations; maritime traffic control as well as search and rescue operations, operating from Puerto Williams in Chile.
Thursday, August 20th 2015 - 07:07 UTC
Two lady leaders under fire, meet in Brazil hoping to recover ground

Chancellor Angela Merkel, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and several other high-ranking German politicians touched down in Brazil's capital, Brasilia late Wednesday. The German delegation set off on its 12-hour flight immediately after a Bundestag vote approving a new bailout package for Greece.
Thursday, August 20th 2015 - 07:02 UTC
Victory for Rousseff: Senate passes major bill of fiscal austerity plan

Brazil's Senate approved a bill to roll back payroll tax breaks on Wednesday that is a key measure in President Dilma Rousseff's efforts to reduce a gaping fiscal deficit and restore confidence in her government's accounts. The Senate voted 45-27 to pass the bill which was received from the lower house with no changes.
Thursday, August 20th 2015 - 06:54 UTC
Volatile Shanghai Composite down again on Thursday despite Beijing's efforts

After days of volatility Chinese equities traded lower once again on Thursday, despite Beijing's efforts to calm markets. The mainland's benchmark Shanghai Composite was 1.3% down to 3,751.48 points.
Thursday, August 20th 2015 - 06:42 UTC
Brazilian major contractor admits guilt in Petrobras' massive corruption scheme

Camargo Correa Construcoes e Participacoes, one of Brazil's largest construction companies, has admitted its role in a massive scheme to overcharge state-controlled oil company Petrobras and agreed to cooperate in the investigation as part of a leniency deal, anti-trust agency Cade said Wednesday.
Thursday, August 20th 2015 - 06:38 UTC
Fed approaching interest rate hike but 'reasonable confidence' still short

An improving job market edged the US Federal Reserve closer to an interest rate hike at its July meeting even as policymakers continued to express broad concerns about lagging inflation and the weak state of the world economy, according to minutes released on Wednesday.
Thursday, August 20th 2015 - 06:32 UTC
Brazil in recession, according to the Central Bank's economic activity index

Economic activity in Brazil fell more quickly than expected in June, central bank data showed on Wednesday, adding to evidence that the once-booming economy is suffering a painful recession. The Brazilian central bank's IBC-Br economic activity index fell 0.58% in June from the prior month, the bank said in a report released on Wednesday.