Stories for April 7th 2009
Peru’s Fujimori convicted to 25 years in prison for human rights crimes
A three-judge panel of Peru’s Supreme Court convicted former president Alberto Fujimori of human rights crimes committed by his government's security forces in the 1990s. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges of murder and kidnapping.
First meeting of Uruguay chancellor with Hillary Clinton
The coming Americas summit in Trinidad Tobago, bilateral affairs and regional issues was the long agenda addressed by Uruguay’s Foreign Affairs minister Gonzalo Fernandez during a meeting Monday with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the US State Department.
Fidel Castro meets with three US members of Congress
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro has held a meeting with three members of the US House of Representatives. The event was his first known meeting with US officials since he underwent emergency intestinal surgery in 2006.
Uruguay modifies bidding terms for offshore oil exploration
The Uruguayan government has modified the bidding terms for offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation, given the dramatic fall in oil prices and the deepening global economic crisis.
OECD removes all countries from tax havens blacklist
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced the removal of all countries blacklisted for alleged tax havens. “OECD welcomes recent commitments to the internationally agreed tax standard on exchange of information made by Costa Rica, Malaysia, Philippines and Uruguay”.
Euro zone fourth quarter contraction larger than estimated
The Euro zone economy shrank more than previously estimated in the last three months of 2008, official figures say. GDP in the 15-nation area fell 1.6%, not 1.5% as previously thought, said the EU Eurostat office. Compared to the final quarter of 2007, GDP fell 1.5%, wider than an earlier estimate of a 1.3% decline.
Joint Gibraltar Spanish cross-border procession for Our Lady of Europe
Gibraltar’s Bishop has met a Spanish diplomat in the Campo de Gibraltar to secure Madrid’s help in the planning of a cross-border procession to mark 700 years of devotion to Our Lady of Europe. The meetings were part of a wider effort to finalise arrangements for the walk and associated events, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.
European funding for Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved funding for two carmakers in the UK, Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan. The EIB approved a £340m package for Jaguar Land Rover to help cut vehicle emissions.
Illex squid ‘no show’ for Falklands zones
The Illex fishery has been a “no show” for Falkland Islands zones so far this year, confirmed Director of Fisheries John Barton.
Magallanes gas production reaches one million cubic metres per day
Oil and gas company Geopark which operates in the extreme south of Chile announced this week it had reached a daily extraction of a million cubic metres of natural gas, equivalent to 20% of Chilean production, making her the country’s largest private producer.
