Stories for November 11th 2009
South Georgia expects 65 cruise calls this season; “Ushuaia” was the first
South Georgia received the first cruise ship of the season “Ushuaia” October 6th when she arrived at Grytviken. The Panamanian flagged vessel operated by Argentina’s Antarpply Expeditions, based returned on a separate cruise on the 27th.
Uruguay’s cruise season moves to Punta del Este fuelled by regional demand
Uruguay’s 2009/2010 cruise season is scheduled to begin next November 20th in Montevideo with the arrival of “Minerva” and four days later in Punta del Este with “MSC Musica”.
Brazilian mini-skirt student rejects offer to pose for Playboy
The Brazilian edition of Playboy is interested in having the 20 year college student Geisy Arruda who sparked national commotion with her miniskirts, as girl of the month. Geidy was first expelled from the university and attacked by fellow students because of her “provocative attitudes” but had to be later readmitted.
Brazil can’t explain the four hours massive blackout
The world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam, Itaipú which on Tuesday caused a four hours blackout in 16 of Brazil’s 27 states and most of Paraguay was back in full production early morning Wednesday but authorities have so far remained silent about the causes of the major turnoff.
Buenos Aires clogged and in chaos under picket rule
Thousands of Argentine unemployed turned to the streets of Buenos Aires blocking streets in demand for government subsidies generating a massive traffic chaos for the second day running. On Tuesday it was the underground workers that walked out leaving literally millions stranded in Argentina’s capital as the political and social climate dangerously escalates.
Paraguay “assessing” its support for Venezuela’s Mercosur admission
Paraguayan Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata described as extremely worrying the escalating “bellicose speech” of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and admitted Paraguay could review its stand in support of that country’s Mercosur admission “if he persists in calling to prepare for war”.
Brazilian Senate suspends vote on Venezuela’s Mercosur admission
The Brazilian Senate agreed to postpone a full house vote on the admission of Venezuela to Mercosur given the “strained climate” generated by President Hugo Chavez who alerted his people of a “possible” war with Colombia.
First foreign cruise of the season arrives in Punta Arenas; business down 27%
The first international cruise called this week in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile, signalling the official beginning of the 2009/10 season which local tourist operators are anticipating is going to suffer a significant fall from the previous.
Book crudely exposes Kirchner’s tactics to remain in power
The Landlord (El Dueño) is the title of the latest book released in Argentina which tells the story of how a shy and humiliated adolescent manages to become the richest, most powerful and vindictive president of Argentina, according to the internet site Hipercritico.com which belongs to the author of the book Luis Majul.
OAS Insulza admits frustration with the stalled Honduras situation
Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said he was not sure the two sides involved in the Honduras crisis would resume dialogue and discarded any idea of sending OAS observers for the scheduled presidential election at the end of November.
