Stories for 13th 2015

Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:57 UTC
Colombia's Ecopetrol slashes offshore exploration budget

Colombia's state-run oil producer Ecopetrol will drill three offshore wells this year, two off its Caribbean Coast and a third in the Gulf of Mexico, after slashing its offshore exploration budget to 200 million dollars down from 632 million last year, the company said.
Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:51 UTC
Chilean lawmakers ask Pope to reverse bishop appointment due to sexual abuse allegations

Fifty-one members of the Chilean Parliament have signed a letter asking Pope Francis to reverse the appointment of the Bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros, due to allegations of covering up sexual abuse.
Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:44 UTC
HSBC Swiss office searched by Geneva prosectuor; second probe in a week

Geneva's public prosecutor searched HSBC's lakeside Swiss office on Wednesday after opening a criminal inquiry into allegations of aggravated money laundering, the second probe to hit the bank this week.
Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:30 UTC
Ascension and South Sandwich islands proposed for marine protected areas

Ahead of the May 7 British general election, a coalition of conservationists and high-profile supporters has called upon the UK government to create three marine reserves that together would more than double the world’s protected waters, reports Inhabitat.
Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:23 UTC
Levy tells US investors Brazil is on track to correct the fiscal slippage

The government of President Dilma Rousseff is working to meet its primary budget surplus goal of 1.2% of GDP in 2015, pledged Finance minister Joaquim Levy on Wednesday to an audience of investors in New York.
Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:14 UTC
Buenos Aires Herald falls in the hands of a group close to Cristina Fernandez

The Indalo Media group which according to Argentine media belongs to businessman Cristobal Lopez, very close to the Kirchner family has purchased 60% of the Ambito editorial group which includes among others the financial daily Ambito, the Buenos Aires Herald and El Ciudadano from Rosario.
Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 00:01 UTC
China celebrates 30 years of first research station in Antarctica

China is preparing to mark 30 years of polar expeditions, when on 20 February 1985 opened its first permanent research station in Antarctica, The Great Wall on King George Island. Since then China has continued to advance and is now planning the fifth permanent station.
Wednesday, February 18th 2015 - 23:06 UTC
OAS Secretary General hopeful meets with Insulza and Permanent Council chair Badrising

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met on Wednesday with the only current candidate to succeed him in office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Luis Almagro, at the headquarters of the Organization in Washington, DC.
Wednesday, February 18th 2015 - 22:07 UTC
Scotland declares digital independence: from now on: “gov.scot”

On Tuesday, the Scottish Government shifted its internet presence from 'scotland.gov.uk' to 'gov.scot', redirecting the old domain to its new home. The move has been heralded for years by the Scottish National Party (SNP).
Wednesday, February 18th 2015 - 19:28 UTC
Canada identifies origin of mad cow disease case; Korea bans Canadian beef

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says a beef breeding cow found with mad cow disease on an Alberta farm was born in the province at a different farm. Association spokesman John Masswohl says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency identified the birth farm. It is the first case reported since 2011. South Korea announced it was banning Canadian beef.