Stories for December 2015

Thursday, December 10th 2015 - 08:36 UTC
Message from the OAS Secretary General on International Anti-Corruption Day

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro called on countries of the region to redouble their efforts in strengthening transparency, accountability and integrity in the Americas, putting into practice the mandates of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption.
Thursday, December 10th 2015 - 08:32 UTC
Pressed by unions Macri confirms promise to exempt end of the year bonus from income tax

Half-year bonuses paid out this month will be exempt from income tax, Argentine president-elect Mauricio Macri announced, backtracking from statements he made on Sunday, when he said there was not enough money to do just that.
Thursday, December 10th 2015 - 08:22 UTC
Macri's candidate will head the Central bank from the first day; Vanoli resigns

Argentina Central Bank President Alejandro Vanoli resigned Wednesday under pressure from President-elect Mauricio Macri, who plans to remove currency controls with reserves standing at a nine-year low.
Thursday, December 10th 2015 - 08:18 UTC
Pollack confirms Macri´s administration intention of negotiating with hedge funds

The court-appointed mediator in a long-running debt dispute pitting Argentina against holdout hedge funds said Wednesday that President-elect Mauricio Macri's incoming administration intended to negotiate a settlement.
Thursday, December 10th 2015 - 07:56 UTC
At Wednesday midnight Cristina Fernandez 'turned into a pumpkin', after eight years in office

Tens of thousands of supporters packed Argentina's most famous square, Plaza de Mayo on Wednesday night to say goodbye to President Cristina Fernandez, who lauded her government's achievements while blasting the incoming administration in the same tones she aimed at opponents throughout her eight years in office.
Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 21:17 UTC
Argentina with an acting president for 12 hours until Macri takes the oath

An Argentine federal judge ruled Wednesday that the mandate of President-elect Mauricio Macri is to begin at midnight, though he will not officially be head of state until he takes the oath of office 12 hours later.
Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 21:03 UTC
Brazil highest court freezes special impeachment committee; gives Rousseff a week's break

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was granted breathing space by the Supreme Court in her fight against impeachment, when late Tuesday it imposed a week-long freeze on the special commission formed to recommend Congress whether Rousseff should be removed from office.
Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 09:18 UTC
Vice-president Temer virtually announces split of Brazil's coalition government

The Brazilian Congress set in motion on Tuesday a complex process that will weigh the possible impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, but even more significant was a letter made public by vice president Michel Temer, which clearly indicates a rift and a possible distancing of the senior partner in the ruling coalition.
Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 08:54 UTC
Falklands' strict work safety measures for 2016 Illex fishery in Islands' waters

Measures that will sometimes exceed flag state requirements, in order to improve the safety of fisherman working on ships in the Illex fishery in Falklands waters have been agreed by the Falkland Islands Government.
Wednesday, December 9th 2015 - 08:42 UTC
Renowned conservationist Doug Tompkins dies during kayak accident in Chilean Patagonia

Douglas Tompkins, 72, the renowned conservationist and co-founder of The North Face, died on Tuesday in a kayaking accident in Lake General Carrera, on the Chilean side of Patagonia. He reportedly capsized in the water and suffered severe hypothermia. A source from Conservacion Patagonica, the non-profit founded in 2000 by his wife Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, confirmed his death.