Stories for April 3rd 2016

Sunday, April 3rd 2016 - 07:52 UTC
Mega corporation Odebrecht involved in Petrobras case, plans to sell assets to meet debt obligations

Troubled Brazilian construction company Odebrecht SA plans to sell about 12 billion reais (US$3.4 billion) in assets to help meet its debt obligations, according to the builder’s chief executive officer. The company had a gross debt of 85 billion reais in 2014, the most recent figure available, but much of it is long-term debt and the biggest payments start only in 2025, Odebrecht CEO Newton de Souza said in an interview published Friday in the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper.
Sunday, April 3rd 2016 - 07:43 UTC
US economy gains confidence: 215.000 more jobs in March and 1.4% growth in fourth quarter

The US economy added 215,000 jobs in March, a little less than it did in February when 242,000 jobs were created. The unemployment rate has risen to 5% from 4.9%, which was an eight-year low, but the Labor Department said more Americans were finding jobs, which suggested a sign of confidence in the US economy. In effect this follows the report on the US economy which grew at an annualized rate of 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2015s.
Sunday, April 3rd 2016 - 07:35 UTC
Argentina promulgates bill which allows for payment of accord with bondholders

The Argentine government made official the accord reached with the holdout funds sponsored by a New York federal court, to pay for defaulted bonds in a fifteen year litigation, following the approval of the bill by the Senate. This means Argentina can now look for funds in the international monetary market.
Sunday, April 3rd 2016 - 07:33 UTC
Uruguay reaffirms allegiance to Mercosur but admits serious challenges

Mercosur is a fundamental legal milestone in regional integration, and a turning point in the history of member countries, said Uruguay's foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa during a conference celebrating the 25th anniversary, (March 1991), of the founding of the South American group, who nevertheless admitted serious challenges.
Sunday, April 3rd 2016 - 06:56 UTC
“Falklands remains well protected” says MoD brushing aside London media claims

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MoD) has rubbished claims that the Falkland Islands have been left without protection, due to the absence of a British warship (frigate or destroyer) permanently based in the south Atlantic. The MoD defended itself following reports that the Falkland Islands were “without the protection of a British frigate or destroyer for the first time since the conflict in 1982”.
Sunday, April 3rd 2016 - 06:50 UTC
Malvinas remain “inexorably Argentine” says Macri on invasion anniversary

The Malvinas Islands remain “inexorably Argentine” said president Mauricio Macri in a message in the social networks aired following the tribute to the Malvinas war veterans at the cenotaph in central Buenos Aires and later meeting with officers and veterans at the Olivos residence.
Sunday, April 3rd 2016 - 06:43 UTC
Cameron open to talk about “Malvinas question” with Macri, says Malcorra

British PM David Cameron told Argentine president Mauricio Macri that the “Malvinas question will be included” as part of the bilateral talks with Argentina, according to Argentine foreign secretary Susana Malcorra. Apparently before Macri returned to Argentina Friday night from the nuclear security summit in Washington, he held a 'brief encounter' on request from PM Cameron.
Sunday, April 3rd 2016 - 06:32 UTC
Falklands hospitality praised by stranded Argentine runners

Falkland Islands provided twenty five Argentine nationals with humanitarian aid (food, warmth and shelter) following the announcement of a week long delay to their return flight to Chile. The group was made up of marathon runners and associates who came to the Islands on March 19 and participated in the Sunday Standard Chartered bank Stanley Marathon. The competition was won by Argentine athlete Rafael Lencina in record time.