Stories for 2016

Saturday, April 30th 2016 - 12:12 UTC
Argentine unions take to the streets to protest job cuts and inflation

Argentina’s strongest unions brought thousands of people into the streets Friday to protest high inflation and job cuts in the biggest demonstrations against President Mauricio Macri since he took office in December. Demonstrators waving blue and white Argentine flags flooded the main avenues of Buenos Aires, blocking traffic in a protest that brought together rival unions that put aside differences to protest Macri’s policies.
Saturday, April 30th 2016 - 11:45 UTC
YPF will fight back legal claim seeking US$ 500 million for rescinding contracts

Argentina's state-run energy company YPF said this week it will fight a legal claim seek more than US$500 million in damages for rescinding natural gas export contracts in 2009. “YPF shall use all its legal resources to defend its interests and those of its shareholders,” the company said in a filing with the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.
Saturday, April 30th 2016 - 11:10 UTC
Sea elephant sighted in the Uruguay River, some 200kms north of the River Plate

A sea elephant has been sighted in the shores of Gualeguaychu, next to the River Uruguay, deep in the Argentine heartland province of Entre Ríos, which together with the opposite coast in neighboring Uruguay has suffered uncommon high floods that have left part of several cities covered in water.
Saturday, April 30th 2016 - 10:57 UTC
A natural size bronze statue of Kirchner found during Argentine prosecutors raids in Santa Cruz

The mega judicial raids in Argentina into the properties of arrested Kirchnerite businessman Lazaro Baez and his family, in the southern province of Santa Cruz, so far have found less cash than rumored but far more assets that expected, including some surprises such as a full size bronze statue of former president Nestor Kirchner.
Friday, April 29th 2016 - 18:09 UTC
UK embassy in Montevideo celebrates the Queen's birthday and Shakespeare 400th anniversary

The UK embassy in Montevideo celebrated the 90th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth at ambassador Ben Lyster-Binns residence on Thursday 28 with the attendance of 500 guests including Uruguayan government officials, lawmakers, diplomats, media and members of the British community in Uruguay.
Friday, April 29th 2016 - 07:10 UTC
“The maker of presidents” (including Lula, Dilma and Chavez) formally charged with corruption

Brazilian prosecutors charged political strategist Joao Santana, the architect of President Dilma Rousseff’s 2010 and 2014 election victories, and 16 others with corruption on Thursday as part of a massive graft investigation.
Friday, April 29th 2016 - 06:50 UTC
Brazil's central bank leaves benchmark rate at 14.25% forced by stubborn inflation

Brazil's central bank left its benchmark interest rate on hold at 14.25% for a sixth consecutive time, amid stubbornly high inflation and political uncertainty. The bank which makes rate decisions eight times a year has held its key Selic rate steady since the last of seven consecutive hikes in July 2015.
Friday, April 29th 2016 - 06:42 UTC
Chilean mining minister inaugurated the British Pavilion at Expomin 2016 in Santiago.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Mining Minister Aurora Williams officially inaugurated Expomin 2016. During her tour through the exhibition, Minister Williams visited the British pavilion, joined by Ambassador Fiona Clouder and UKTI Director Trevor Hines.
Friday, April 29th 2016 - 06:27 UTC
''Vote Leave'' Chair says leaving the EU will not affect UK protection of Overseas Territories

Withdrawal from the European Union will not affect the protection the UK provides for its overseas territories, the chair of Vote Leave, Gisela Stuart, has told MPs in the House of Commons.
Friday, April 29th 2016 - 06:18 UTC
Latam and Caribbean forecasted to contract 0.5% in 2016, worst two-year since 1982, says IMF

Latin America and the Caribbean will post an overall 0.5% economic contraction in 2016, the International Monetary Fund forecast in its latest report, capping the region's worst two-year period since the 1982 debt crisis. But the IMF said the region is expected to rebound to 1.5% growth in 2017, avoiding the “lost decade” phenomenon that marked the 1980s.