Stories for February 2016

Thursday, February 4th 2016 - 07:21 UTC
Kirchnerite opposition splits; Macri now has the main block in the Lower House

Argentina's main opposition party suffered a split on Wednesday after an estimated fifteen of its lawmakers quit, party leaders admitted, handing a boost to newly-elected President Mauricio Macri's hopes of pushing his legislative agenda through Congress. In effect, Macri's political alliance in the Lower House becomes the majority grouping.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 07:23 UTC
Argentina agrees to pay Italian bond holders including “a reasonable interest”

Argentina announced Tuesday that it reached a $900 million preliminary accord to settle its pending debt with 50,000 Italian holders of defaulted Argentine government bonds. Finance minister Alfonso Prat-Gay said that the agreement with Italian bondholders includes the Argentine government's acknowledgement of the debt “and reasonable interest”.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 07:10 UTC
Chilean football fans vandalize Malvinas memorial in Rosario: 46 arrests

Two of the 46 Chileans arrested on Monday for vandalism against a Malvinas Fallen Monument in Argentina's second largest city, Rosario, were still waiting on Tuesday for the prosecutors' charges before going before a federal judge. During the first hearing, advised by a government supplied lawyer, the Chileans abstained from making any statement while demanding to be set free.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 07:04 UTC
Harsh time for Rousseff in Congress: booing and threats of more difficulties

Brazilian Congress gave on Tuesday a harsh welcome to President Dilma Rousseff at its yearly inaugural session, booing her and threatening new “difficulties” added to the turbulent relations that prevail between the executive and legislative branches.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 06:55 UTC
Brazil factories and mine production plunges 8.3% in 2015, with little prospects of change in the short term

Industrial output in Brazil fell for a seventh straight month in December, capping the worst year for manufacturers in more than a decade as they struggle with inflation, high interest rates and political uncertainty.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 06:32 UTC
US reports first known case of Zika virus transmission through sex

The first known case of Zika virus transmission in the United States was reported in Texas on Tuesday by local health officials, who said it likely was contracted through sex and not a mosquito bite, a day after the World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 06:15 UTC
Brazil airline shares soar as regulator admits opening to foreign capital

Brazilian airline shares soared nearly 30% on Monday after a newspaper report said the government may scrap limits on foreign ownership of domestic airlines to attract investment to the struggling sector. President Dilma Rousseff may propose legislation giving her discretion to let foreign groups own as much as 100% of local airlines, up from 20%, Valor Econômico reported.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 05:52 UTC
Norway's Statoil confirms interest in Uruguay's offshore potential, acquires 15% of exploration block

Norway's Statoil giant announced on Tuesday an agreement with French Total to acquire a 15% working interest in an offshore exploration block in Uruguay's continental shelf. The announcement comes only weeks before Total is preparing to drill its first exploratory well in Uruguayan waters.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 05:38 UTC
BP reported its biggest annual lost and announced 7.000 job cuts

BP slumped to its biggest annual loss last year and announced thousands more job cuts on Tuesday, showing that even one of the nimblest oil producers is struggling in the worst market downturn in over a decade.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 05:14 UTC
Four MPs expected in the Falklands next week: two Tories and two Labour

A group of four Members of Parliament from Britain will be visiting the Falkland Islands as guests of FIG from February 11-16, accompanied by Sukey Cameron MBE, from the Falkland Islands Government Office in London.