Stories for August 2015

Wednesday, August 26th 2015 - 06:00 UTC
Shell given a foothold at Argentina's vast shale resources in Neuquén

Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell made a stride forward in its push for part of Argentina’s nascent shale oil pie after the Neuquen province government gave it the rights to exploit two unconventional oil areas in the much-coveted Vaca Muerta region for the next 35 years.
Wednesday, August 26th 2015 - 05:47 UTC
Blatter says he is 'clean' and denies systematic bribery in FIFA

With FIFA reeling from the most damaging corruption crisis in its 111-year history, (14 FIFA officials and marketing executives were indicted by US justice authorities in May over a $150 million bribery scandal), Sepp Blatter denied that FIFA was corrupt to the core.
Tuesday, August 25th 2015 - 20:31 UTC
Falklands' air defenses bolstered with Saab-built Giraffe AMB radars

Britain has ordered additional Saab-built Giraffe AMB radars to bolster ground-based air defenses on the Falkland Islands against a possible future threat from Argentina, reports Defense News. The Swedish company announced on 24 August that it had received an order valued at 610 Swedish krona million ($74 million dollars) from the UK Ministry of Defense for the supply of new radars and the upgrade of existing systems.
Tuesday, August 25th 2015 - 20:13 UTC
Rousseff planning to cut 10 of 39 ministries as commitment to austerity

Brazil's government announced on Monday it will slash the number of ministries and reduce its spending, in an effort to show commitment to austerity that could be politically costly for President Dilma Rousseff.
Tuesday, August 25th 2015 - 20:09 UTC
Falklands' Humpback exploration well results delayed until September

Falkland Oil & Gas Ltd told investors that drilling of the deep water Humpback exploration well in South Falkland basin has run into delays. They were described as ‘unforeseen equipment and operational issues’ and it has added just over a month to the schedule – to about 100 days from 65 planned days – so the well results are now expected during September.
Tuesday, August 25th 2015 - 15:01 UTC
Over 700 Cuban doctors working in Venezuela have fled across to Colombia

Deteriorating conditions in Venezuela are causing increasing numbers of Cuban medical personnel working there to immigrate to the United States under a special US program launched in 2006 that expedites their applications.
Tuesday, August 25th 2015 - 14:48 UTC
Rousseff ever more lame: VP Temer to drop as political coordinator

Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer has decided to drop his role as day-to-day political coordinator in Congress for President Dilma Rousseff but is not leaving her government, two sources in the administration said on Monday.
Tuesday, August 25th 2015 - 14:43 UTC
Brazil's electoral authority investigating funding of Rousseff's presidential campaign

The vice-president of Brazil’s TSE electoral authority has asked for an investigation of President Dilma Rousseff’s 2014 re-election campaign, citing evidence that it may have been financed with money from a corruption scheme at state-run oil firm Petrobras.
Tuesday, August 25th 2015 - 14:41 UTC
China dependent Latin American markets and currencies plunge on Monday

Stock markets around Latin America posted heavy losses Monday as plunging Chinese shares unleashed fresh turmoil on global markets. In Brazil, home to the region's largest stock exchange, the IBOVESPA index in Sao Paulo closed down 3.03%, after plunging 6.49% in opening trade.
Tuesday, August 25th 2015 - 13:32 UTC
Shanghai Composite down on Tuesday, but European markets rebounding

Shares in London and elsewhere in Europe rebounded at the start of trading on Tuesday, despite another night of steep falls for the Chinese stock market. The FTSE 100 rose 1.6% to 5,994.11, while Germany's Dax and Paris Cac were both up about 1.4%. The gains came after Chinese stocks continued their run of big losses.