Stories for April 16th 2009
Chavez rejects Americas’ summit declaration which ignores Cuba
President Hugo Chavez said on Thursday Venezuela ''will veto'' the declaration which is being drafted and due to be issued by this weekend's Summit of the Americas at Trinidad Tobago.
Chile rocked by labour protests demanding job protection
Chilean police used tear gas and water cannons to break up a labor demonstration in downtown Santiago, part of a nationwide strike of workers demanding job protection amid a wave of layoffs as the global crisis reaches the country.
Paraguayan president “honest leader” image suffers a whacking
The “honest leader” image of Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo, who last Monday admitted fathering a child while still a Catholic bishop, plummeted 16% according to the latest public opinion poll released this week.
Brazil slashes primary budget surplus to stimulate economy
Brazil's government cut its 2009 primary budget surplus target to 2.5% of GDP from 3.8% and set a target of 3.3% of GDP for the next three years, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said on Wednesday speaking at a Congressional hearing.
Colombia captures “Don Mario, most wanted drug lord
Colombia announced Wednesday the capture of the man listed as the country's most wanted drug lord, Daniel Rendon. The government had offered a reward of up to 2 million US dollars for the capture of Rendon, an alleged paramilitary drug trafficker also known as “Don Mario.”
Fishing quotas dispute forces cancelling of Dover/Calais ferries
Ferry operator P&O has cancelled all Dover to Calais crossings due to a blockade by French fishing boats. The blockade at the port of Calais is also causing motorway disruption in Kent, police have said.
Chavez names “chief of government” and takes control of Caracas
Venezuelan legislators loyal to President Hugo Chavez approved this week a new law that further erodes the authority of Caracas' opposition mayor by subordinating him to a government-appointed official.
Former guerrilla leads Uruguay’s ruling coalition presidential primary
Uruguay’s presidential hopeful and former guerrilla leader Jose Mujica leads comfortably in the ruling coalition’s coming primary scheduled for next June 28th, according to the latest public opinion poll released this week.
Climate change threatens Antarctica’s emperor penguins
Polar bears, the poster children for Arctic climate change, are getting competition for the title of climate change casualty from the opposite side of the globe. Antarctica’s emperor penguins may face an equally dire fate. Like polar bears, these birds depend on sea ice for breeding and feeding habitat. Also like polar bears, emperor penguins seem unlikely to adapt to the rapid rate of sea ice extent change, according to a National Academy of Science study released by the National Centre for Atmospheric Research.
Lula da Silva has the highest approval rating; Cristina K the lowest
Brazil’s President Lula da Silva and Colombia’s Alvaro Uribe with over 70% approval have the best leaders’ performances in Latinamerica while in the other extreme figure Argentina’s Cristina Kirchner and Honduras Manuel Zelaya, below 30%, according to the prestigious Mexican pollster Consulta Mitofsky.
