Stories for February 2016

Saturday, February 13th 2016 - 05:32 UTC
Pollack confirms 'eventful week' of negotiations between Argentina and holdouts

In the midst of ongoing negotiations in the United States courts between the administration of President Mauricio Macri and holdouts to reach an agreement, special master Daniel A. Pollack on Friday issued a statement reiterating “two major holdouts reached agreements in principle with Argentina to settle their claims.
Saturday, February 13th 2016 - 04:08 UTC
'Queen Mary 2' calls in Ushuaia after ten-year absence

One of the world's largest and most iconic cruise vessels called at Ushuaia, extreme south of Argentina, on Thursday following an absence of over ten years. Given the size of the 'Queen Mary 2', she anchored in the bay and those passengers of the 2.600 on board who decided to land were brought ashore in tenders.
Friday, February 12th 2016 - 18:47 UTC
Falklands' (oil exploration) “has been a hugely successful campaign”, says Rockhopper

Rockhopper Exploration which has a joint venture agreement with Premier Oil offshore the Falkland Islands, described the oil exploration campaign now terminated as a 'huge success' and underlines the postponement of the Chatham well drilling will have no impact on the Field Development Plan for the Sea Lion oil discovery development.
Friday, February 12th 2016 - 18:14 UTC
Falklands' exploratory campaign ended, following termination of ocean rig contract

The Falkland Islands government and Premier Oil have announced on Friday the ocean rig 'Eirik Raude' contract termination, which in practical terms puts an end to the current exploratory campaign and the scheduled drilling of the Chatham well. Nevertheless both sides underlined the success of the now terminated campaign with the oil discoveries at the Zebedee and Isobel Deep prospects in the North Falkland basin and look forward to continue working in the near future.
Friday, February 12th 2016 - 07:10 UTC
Uruguay’s Quiet Democratic Miracle

By Uki Goñi -

”Because here nobody is better than anybody else.” The phrase, one of this small South American country’s most cherished sayings, dates back to the 19th century and is often repeated by its thinkers, presidents and everyday citizens. As a simple expression of the democratic spirit, it sums up how Uruguayans feel about their homeland.
Friday, February 12th 2016 - 07:02 UTC
Majority of Mercosur teen-agers are 'low performers' in maths, science and reading

Bad news for Mercosur aspirations. Low standards at schools in most of South America are a common problem according to the latest report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, which has the region's students among the last fifteen in a list of 64 countries.
Friday, February 12th 2016 - 06:55 UTC
Lagarde, as sole candidate, has virtually assured five more years as IMF head

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has nominated current managing director Christine Lagarde for the second term, IMF Executive Board Dean Aleksei Mozhin said in a statement on Thursday.
Friday, February 12th 2016 - 06:40 UTC
French president's visit to Argentina and Uruguay could include defense deals

French president Francois Hollande is scheduled to visit Peru, Argentina and Uruguay in the last week of February, and in a display of Gallic diplomacy expects to promote trade, investments and French interests in the region.
Friday, February 12th 2016 - 06:33 UTC
France claims the EC has done ”too little too late to help (struggling) farmers”

France called on the European Commission to do more to help its struggling livestock industry, seeking to defuse protests that have seen farmers block highways and supermarkets.
Friday, February 12th 2016 - 06:27 UTC
Petrobras faces legal challenges in the billions from international investors

Brazil’s troubled state oil firm Petrobras faces possible new legal challenges from a coalition of groups representing international investors based in Europe in the US. The financially hobbled and corruption-racked company is being sued over alleged fraud-related losses the investors suffered on its shares and bonds traded outside the Americas.