Stories for September 2015

Wednesday, September 23rd 2015 - 07:50 UTC
Punta Arenas low-cost fares competition between Lan and Sky Airlines

Following on Chilean low cost carrier, Sky Airlines, announcement of twelve destinations with cheap flight tickets, including the Santiago/Punta Arenas leg, Lan Chile made a similar presentation on Tuesday of a new set of promotions.
Wednesday, September 23rd 2015 - 07:31 UTC
Obama and Biden greet Francis as he begins six-day visit; he will address US congress

Pope Francis on Tuesday afternoon touched down at Joint Base Andrews to begin a historic six-day, three-city visit that will have political, diplomatic and spiritual ramifications. Breaking from the usual protocol for a state visit, President Obama and Vice President Biden chose to greet the papal plane before Francis departed in a hatchback Fiat to begin his tightly scheduled, carefully choreographed and highly anticipated visit.
Wednesday, September 23rd 2015 - 07:17 UTC
Uruguay pumps greenbacks to keep the US dollar rate on sliding stability

Uruguay's central bank was forced to sell almost 65 million dollars on Tuesday, the highest volume so far this year, to keep the US dollar from ballooning as fears of the collapse of the Brazilian economy are felt through the region. The dollar finally ended trading with a slight 0.12% increase at 28,826 Pesos to the greenback.
Wednesday, September 23rd 2015 - 07:05 UTC
Brazil's currency falls to its weakest level against the US dollar, 4.06 Reais

Brazil's currency fell to its weakest level ever as investors cast a wary eye on negotiations over spending bills that could further complicate the country's tenuous fiscal position. The currency, like others across Latin America, was also hammered by a global rise in the dollar sparked by increased expectations that the US Federal Reserve is still on track to raise interest rates this year.
Wednesday, September 23rd 2015 - 06:55 UTC
'Cristina Fernandez 2019' and a Scioli 'constructive transition' burst into the presidential campaign

Estela de Carlotto, the president of Argentina's Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights organization, considered Daniel Scioli a “faithful and different man” whose triumph in the October presidential elections could pave the way for a “constructive transition” toward the “return of Cristina” Fernández to power in four years time.
Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 14:38 UTC
Trinidad approves extradition proceedings for Concacaf ex chief, Jack Warner

The extradition proceedings against Jack Warner, a former vice-president of football's world governing body FIFA, are to go ahead after being approved by Trinidad's attorney general. Untied States wants to try Mr. Warner, 72, a Trinidadian national, on corruption charges. He is accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes.
Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 11:57 UTC
Ron Jans – the next National Coach of Holland?

The Dutch National football team, 3rd in the 2014 World Cup and runners-up 4 years previously, are in grave danger of not qualifying for the 2016 European Champions Finals in France.
Currently in 4th place in their qualifying group they need to finish no lower than 3rd just to ensure a play-off game and few people in Holland has any confidence this can be achieved.
Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 10:14 UTC
With mediation of Uruguay and Ecuador border Colombia / Venezuela reopens

Colombia and Venezuela have agreed to restore diplomatic dialogue and oversee “progressive normalization” of their border, after a meeting between Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his counterpart Nicolas Maduro.
Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 08:07 UTC
Pope will celebrate last mass in Cuba on Tuesday before flying to the US

Pope Francis has celebrated mass in front of thousands of people in the eastern Cuban city of Holguin. During his homily, he paid tribute to the “efforts” and “sacrifices” the Roman Catholic Church has made in Cuba.
Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 07:53 UTC
Former treasurer of Brazil's ruling party sentenced to 15 years in prison over Petrobras corruption

The former treasurer of Brazil's ruling party was sentenced Monday to more than 15 years in prison for his role in a massive corruption scandal at state oil giant Petrobras. The judge investigating the scandal found Joao Vaccari, who was the Workers Party treasurer until April, guilty of “corruption, money-laundering and conspiracy,” and sentenced him to 15 years and four months.