Stories for January 2007
Pulp mills dispute: Argentina on full offensive
Uruguay promised to consider all proposals from the Spanish Crown envoy who is attempting to “facilitate a dialogue” between Argentina and Uruguay that are confronted over the construction of pulp mills in a shared border river.
Passengers of stranded cruise taken to Ushuaia
The 300 passengers of a cruise vessel that ran aground in the South Shetlands are being transferred to another ship from the same company and will be transported to Ushuaia, extreme south Argentina.
Fed leaves rates unchanged; “inflation likely to moderate”
The United States Federal Reserve left Wednesday interest rates unchanged at 5.25% for the fifth time running based on “firmer economic growth” with the economy “likely to expand at a moderate pace over coming quarters”.
Bush formally requests Congress extension of fast track
US President George Bush formalized Wednesday his announced request to the Democratic-led Congress to renew his fast-track authority (officially Trade Promotion Authority) for negotiating international trade agreements.
Vatican bars Bishop from Paraguayan presidential candidacy
The Vatican suspended “a divinis” Paraguayan bishop Fernando Lugo for having resigned last year to his church position to become a candidate for the presidential election of 2008.
US “watchful” of how Chavez exercises special powers
President Hugo Chavez was granted Wednesday by the National Assembly special powers during 18 months, to accelerate changes in broad areas of society and the economy by presidential decree.
Chile's President Bachelet schedules impressive tour
After returning from her summer vacation on Lake Caburgua, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet plans to embark on an impressive tour of Latin American countries to encourage regional cooperation. She will then jet off to Europe to compare notes with “sister” countries famed for their welfare states.
Lula's 4 year economic plan faces crucial negotiations
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called Tuesday for “unity and hard work” from all leaders of the ruling coalition to ensure the quick approval of the economic package recently announced and which is the backbone of his second mandate.
OPEC's target: oil in the range of 50/55 US dollars per barrel
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, is preparing to implement another round of oil cuts beginning February first, satisfied with its decision to cut supply by 6% that has helped restore market balance.
Southern Chile's tremors traced to submarine fissure
The weeks' long tremors that have residents of Chilean Patagonia fearsome of a major earthquake can be traced to a submarine fissure and not the tectonic plaques, according to a group of scientists working in the area.
