Stories for April 17th 2009
ALBA summit support Paraguay’s Itaipu dam claims
The ALBA group presidential summit, which has Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez as its main promoter, fully supported Paraguayan claims in its conflict with Brazil regarding the energy from Latinamerica’s largest hydroelectric dam Itaipú.
Latinamerica looks to China to increase trade and investments
Latinamerica is hopeful that an increase in trade with China and investments from the Asian giant will help compensate lost business with the United States and the European Union because of the global crisis.
Top economist says UK economy “could have started a recovery”
There are signs the British economy may already have started a recovery, according to economist David Miles. He is due to join the Bank of England's rate-setting body next June.
Hillary Clinton admits failure of US policy towards Cuba
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday US policy toward Cuba has failed as she welcomed an ”overture'' from President Raul Castro to talk about “everything” including human rights and political prisoners.
OAS Secretary General wants Cuba back again in the organization
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS Jose Miguel Insulza said Friday that he will ask its members to readmit Cuba almost half a century after the country was ousted for its “communist alignment”.
Emergency credit aid for Brazil’s ailing meatpacking industry
Brazil's government will offer a ten billion Reales credit line from BNDES, the National Development Bank to support activities in agribusiness, Finance Minister Guido Mantega announced. He added the funds would go mostly to support Brazil’s ailing meatpacking sector and would be offered at an annual interest rate of 11.25%.
Citibank first quarter pleasant surprise for banking sector
Citigroup reported on Friday its first quarterly net profit in nearly two years, the latest US bank to see an improvement in its performance. It made a profit of 1.6 billion US dollars compared with a loss of 5.1 billion a year earlier. Revenues rose 99% to 24.8 billion.
De facto exit for embargo: Castro and Obama agree to discuss “any issue”
Cuban President Raul Castro said from Venezuela that his government is willing to discuss any issue with Washington, as along as it's a conversation between equals and Washington respects “the Cuban people's right to self-determination”.
Obama to Latinamerica: “we must choose the future over the past”
“Choosing a Better Future in the Americas” was the title on an opinion editorial from United States President Barack Obama published Thursday in the main dailies of Latinamerica on the eve of his arrival to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad Tobago, with a one day previous visit to Mexico.
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update
Headlines: Stolen property tracked to Australia, Combined police efforts land former dairy managers in court; Takings soar at the new-look Chandlery; Time change.
