Stories for February 8th 2018

Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 17:19 UTC
Goose Green Liberated of Landmines after more than 35 Years

As Mercopress have reported in a series of articles over the past eight years, the Falkland Islands are slowly being cleared of the landmines laid by Argentine forces during the 1982 war. Last week this process reached a key milestone when Goose Green settlement, the site of a key battle in late May 1982, was announced as being mine-free.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 11:24 UTC
Venezuelan presidential elections for April 22

Venezuela's questioned electoral council has set April 22 as the date for a controversial presidential election, which was supposed to occur late 2018. The opposition accuses President Nicolas Maduro of using to plan a second term for himself.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 11:21 UTC
Busy cruise visitors week for Ushuaia: 20.000 landed during January

Ushuaia in the extreme south of Argentina is experiencing one of the busiest weeks of the current cruise season with six vessels and thousands of visitors calling at the capital of Tierra del Fuego. This includes the “Emerald Princess”, which is the largest to visit the End of the World city and will be completing its third call this season.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 11:19 UTC
Long steel industry concentration in Brazil: ArcelorMittal taking over Votorantim

The Brazilian unit of ArcelorMittal expects to conclude in the second quarter the takeover of rival Votorantim Siderurgia SA to become the country’s largest long steel producer, a senior company executive said. Jefferson de Paula, ArcelorMittal executive vice president, said that ArcelorMittal’s long steel capacity in Brazil would reach up to 6 million tons per year after the tie-up.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 09:53 UTC
Falklands: improvements to Mare Harbour jetty completed

A state of the art jetty which will improve military capability in the Falkland Islands and improve life for personnel on the Islands has been completed by Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). Work to upgrade the jetty in Mare Harbour was officially opened recently by Geoff Robson, DIO’s Chief Operating Officer.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 09:37 UTC
Brazilian ex president Collor de Mello throws hit hat into the ring

Among the many possible contenders for Brazil’s next president are an ex-army captain, a TV presenter and a former head of state who may be in jail by the time of the election. Now, another eye-catching candidate has thrown his hat into the ring: Fernando Collor de Mello, Brazil’s president from 1990-1992, when he resigned shortly before being impeached on corruption charges.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 09:26 UTC
China confirms support for Venezuela and lashes out at “irresponsible” US

China’s support for Venezuela has benefited ordinary people and been broadly welcomed, the foreign ministry said after the U.S. Treasury accused China of aiding Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government with murky oil-for-loan investments.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 09:17 UTC
Brazil's central bank beats inflation and recession: eyes now on the presidential election

Brazil’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday to a new low of 6.75%, but hinted it was now done with a historic easing cycle. The bank lowered the Selic rate by 0.25 percentage point, its 11th consecutive cut aimed at helping Latin America’s largest economy emerge from a stifling two-year recession.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 09:11 UTC
Falklands and MoD agree to address rotor winds at MPA airport

The Falkland Islands government and the Ministry of Defense have agreed to address the challenge of rotor winds, which have become a serious problem for the operations at the Mount Pleasant Complex.
Thursday, February 8th 2018 - 09:11 UTC
With NAFTA on the cliff, Mexico betting strongly to update free trade agreement with Europe

Mexico believes it can conclude a new free-trade agreement with the European Union before the end of February, Mexican officials have said. The EU and Mexico intend to update a trade deal agreed 21 years ago that largely covers industrial goods. They want to add farm products, more services, investment and government procurement, and include provisions on labor standards and environmental protection.