Stories for December 2015

Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 02:22 UTC
Busy weekend for Ushuaia: 8.000 cruise visitors

Over 8.000 cruise visitors arrived in Ushuaia over the weekend when the Star Princess (2.600 pax), Norwegian Sun (2.400 pax), Infinity (2.400 pax) and the Seabourn Quest coincided in the extreme south port of Argentina in the peak of the Southern hemisphere season.
Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 01:01 UTC
Reclaiming South Georgia from rats: a world leading project

Reclaiming South Georgia is the story of the SGHT Habitat Restoration Project fieldwork that took place on South Georgia in three phases (in 2011, 2013 and 2015). The latest edition of South Georgia Newsletter says that text and photographs tell the story of how this world-leading project baited every square inch of rodent-infested land on the island.
Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 00:51 UTC
Dismal prospects for Brazilian economy in 2016, according to Central bank and budget deficit

Analysts expect Brazil's economy to contract by 2.81% in 2016 after contracting by 3.70% this year, marking the biggest drop in economic output in 25 years, the Central Bank said on Monday. Economists are forecasting an inflation rate of 10.72% this year, the highest rate in 13 years, and 6.86% in 2016. The estimates seem to be supported by the latest numbers referred to the budget deficit.
Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 00:46 UTC
Petrobras corruption 'net' involves Norwegian companies, claim Oslo media

The huge corruption case swirling around Brazilian oil company Petrobras is being called the world’s largest, and increasing numbers of Norwegian companies seem to be getting tangled up in it. Norwegian bosses mostly claim no knowledge of any bribes being paid, but investigations are underway on several fronts.
Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 23:56 UTC
Majority of Spaniards against a re-run of election; only 7% would change their vote says poll

Less than one third of Spaniards want a re-run of 20 December's election, which resulted in a stalemate, with two-thirds favoring a pact between parties, a poll showed. Just 7% of those surveyed said they would change their votes in a fresh election, while 87.1% said they would vote the same way.
Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 21:54 UTC
Environmental groups blame massive deforestation for floods in Mercosur members

Deforestation is one of the main causes of the floods in South America that have left at least 160,000 people, 25,000 of them in Argentina alone, homeless, environmental groups said.
Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 08:23 UTC
JPMorgan-Chase describes Macri's Argentina as “a ray of sunshine” in the region

A growing number of foreign investors are signaling interest in Argentina following the pro-market turn that newly-inaugurated President Mauricio Macri started showing since taking office. The latest financial player to endorse the country as a promising investment destination was JP Morgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States, where current Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay worked in the past.
Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 08:07 UTC
Israel pressing Brazil to accept pro-settler activist as its ambassador

Brazil’s reluctance to accept an Argentine born pro-settler politician as Israeli ambassador has triggered a diplomatic clash and concerns it could seriously damage future relations between the two countries.
Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 07:46 UTC
New five-year strategy for South Georgia emphasizes environment management

The new five-year Strategy for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands 2016-2020 was published on 27th November. The Strategy sets out an ambitious agenda to deliver the highest standards of environmental stewardship and governance for the British Overseas Territory, according to the latest South Georgia Newsletter.
Monday, December 28th 2015 - 13:49 UTC
Unions challenge Macri's government over review of public-sector contracts

Argentina's two largest state workers unions have warned they will be carrying out a strike on December 29 as a response to president Mauricio Macri's government vow to review public-sector contracts.