Stories for April 23rd 2009
Captain of Falklands’ war cruiser “General Belgrano” dies in Argentina
The commander of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano sunk by a British nuclear submarine during the Falkland Islands conflict 1982, Hector Bonzo died this week in Buenos Aires at the age of 76.
Ecuador firm on its sovereign bonds sharp discount buy-back scheme
Ecuador will not change its offer to buy back 3.2 billion of defaulted debt at a sharp discount (70%), and appealed to investors to be mindful of its economic problems, Finance Minister Elsa Viteri said in a letter to bondholders, according to press reports from Quito.
UNITAS Gold celebrates 50th anniversary of multilateral maritime exercise
Representatives from eleven countries participated in the opening ceremony of UNITAS Gold on the 50th iteration of the annual multinational maritime exercise which takes place off the coast of Florida until May 5.
EC determined to radical fisheries reform and lower catch capacity
The European Commission (EC) has raised the issue of radically reforming the European Union (EU) Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to Member States, in favour of an important reduction of the fishing capacity, among other points.
Correa and his revolution poised for easy re-election in Ecuador
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa is poised to easily win re-election on Sunday, according to the latest public opinion polls which show he has about 50% support and way ahead of his seven rivals.
US Supreme Court ruling ray of hope for undocumented immigrants
The United States Supreme Court made it easier this week for undocumented immigrants seeking to avoid deportation to get another chance at a court hearing. The decision came in the case of Jean Marc Nken, from Cameroon, who came to the United States in 2001 and did not leave when his visa expired.
Mercosur is going through “one of its worst moments”
Mercosur is going through “one of its worst moments” and has several “pending critical issues” such as “free circulation of goods and people and mitigating asymmetries” said Walter Cancela head of Uruguay’s Economic Affairs, Integration and Mercosur Office.
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs could be out of jail next July
Britain’s Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs is facing an anxious wait to learn if he will be freed from jail after his parole hearing adjourned Thursday without a result. A spokesman for the Parole Board said a decision was likely by July this year, when Biggs becomes eligible for release after serving a third of his sentence.
IMF more upbeat about Chilean economy than the locals
Chile's GDP will likely grow a marginal 0.1% on the year in 2009, recovering to a 3% in 2010, said the International Monetary Fund in its April World Economic Outlook released Wednesday. The IMF outlook is more optimistic than local analysts' outlook who forecast the Chilean economy will contract 0.5% this year.
Coming battle to reform IMF and World Bank decision making process
This week-end, ministers of finance and central bankers will meet with officials of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington to address the reform of the two global financial institutions, which were created by the United States and its allies to fund and guide economic development after World War II.
