Politics

• Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 02:24 UTC

  Russian polar vessel and helicopters will supply Argentine Antarctica bases

  

  For the eighth season, Argentina's Antarctic bases and stations are to be supplied by the Russian polar vessel Vasily Golovnin from Arkadia Ltd. This has been going on since 2007 when the Argentine flagship ice-breaker Almirante Irizar caught fire in the high seas and is still in repairs waiting for the necessary funds.

• Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 00:51 UTC

  Dismal prospects for Brazilian economy in 2016, according to Central bank and budget deficit

  

  Analysts expect Brazil's economy to contract by 2.81% in 2016 after contracting by 3.70% this year, marking the biggest drop in economic output in 25 years, the Central Bank said on Monday. Economists are forecasting an inflation rate of 10.72% this year, the highest rate in 13 years, and 6.86% in 2016. The estimates seem to be supported by the latest numbers referred to the budget deficit.

• Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 00:46 UTC

  Petrobras corruption 'net' involves Norwegian companies, claim Oslo media

  

  The huge corruption case swirling around Brazilian oil company Petrobras is being called the world’s largest, and increasing numbers of Norwegian companies seem to be getting tangled up in it. Norwegian bosses mostly claim no knowledge of any bribes being paid, but investigations are underway on several fronts.

• Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 23:56 UTC

  Majority of Spaniards against a re-run of election; only 7% would change their vote says poll

  

  Less than one third of Spaniards want a re-run of 20 December's election, which resulted in a stalemate, with two-thirds favoring a pact between parties, a poll showed. Just 7% of those surveyed said they would change their votes in a fresh election, while 87.1% said they would vote the same way.

• Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 08:23 UTC

  JPMorgan-Chase describes Macri's Argentina as “a ray of sunshine” in the region

  

  A growing number of foreign investors are signaling interest in Argentina following the pro-market turn that newly-inaugurated President Mauricio Macri started showing since taking office. The latest financial player to endorse the country as a promising investment destination was JP Morgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States, where current Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay worked in the past.

• Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 08:07 UTC

  Israel pressing Brazil to accept pro-settler activist as its ambassador

  

  Brazil’s reluctance to accept an Argentine born pro-settler politician as Israeli ambassador has triggered a diplomatic clash and concerns it could seriously damage future relations between the two countries.

• Tuesday, December 29th 2015 - 07:46 UTC

  New five-year strategy for South Georgia emphasizes environment management

  

  The new five-year Strategy for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands 2016-2020 was published on 27th November. The Strategy sets out an ambitious agenda to deliver the highest standards of environmental stewardship and governance for the British Overseas Territory, according to the latest South Georgia Newsletter.

• Monday, December 28th 2015 - 13:49 UTC

  Unions challenge Macri's government over review of public-sector contracts

  

  Argentina's two largest state workers unions have warned they will be carrying out a strike on December 29 as a response to president Mauricio Macri's government vow to review public-sector contracts.

• Monday, December 28th 2015 - 08:50 UTC

  Uruguayan officials invited to London to learn about Public-Private-Partnership

  

  Uruguayan representatives of public entities who travelled to the United Kingdom and Brazil fed back on their experiences on Public-Private Partnership in an event held in the central office of the National Development Corporation (CND) in Montevideo.

• Monday, December 28th 2015 - 08:38 UTC

  Argentine central bank building reserves: much depends on farmers and bankers

  

  This short week and the month of January will test if the Argentine administration of president Mauricio Macri can continue to build up Central Bank reserves following on the decision to end the dollar clamp, let the foreign exchange float, together with the prospect of loans and hoarded grain sales.