Stories for April 2007

Saturday, April 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Kirchner/Lula reinforce “strategic alliance” and discuss bio-fuels

Argentina's Nestor Kirchner and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strengthened the “strategic relationship” between the two largest members of Mercosur during a presidential summit in Buenos Aires on Friday where bio-fuels and the Southern Bank figured top of the agenda.
Saturday, April 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
IMF concerned with “social gaps” and “populist” governments

Latin American governments should increase social spending while maintaining sound fiscal policies to reduce poverty and growing political dissatisfaction in the region, IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said at a conference in Boston.
Saturday, April 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez and allies open alternative ALBA meeting

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is hosting this weekend in Barquisimeto his closest regional allies at the summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), an integration bloc he and Cuban ruler Fidel Castro founded in 2004 to counter the “Washington-based free trade model” better known as the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
Saturday, April 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
New Chinese Foreign Secretary UK educated, US expert

China announced Friday the appointment of a new Foreign Affairs Minister, replacing veteran diplomat Li Zhaoxing with a younger Yang Jiechi, who is a former ambassador to the United States.
Friday, April 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Falklands: Penguin News weekly update

Headlines:

Tim picks up her MBE; Exploring the southern wilderness; Smoking ban looms; 'Frustrated' Argentines; Tourism meeting today.

Inside Penguin News: Past Finders repair historic corral; Queen's Birthday Parade; HE's First trip to South Georgia.
Friday, April 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
China confident in reining inflation with higher interest rates

Inflation in China is forecasted to stay within the government's target zone of 3% in 2007 giving Beijing authorities enough space to push ahead with pricing reforms for resources, according to a government economist.
Friday, April 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Santiago Consensus calls for integration and education investment

Chile's Michelle Bachelet and Brazil's Lula da Silva called for deeper regional integration and increased investment in education, two priorities that mirrored a consensus among the 400 business, government and civil society leaders from 28 countries participating in the World Economic Forum on Latin America in Santiago.
Friday, April 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Euro Sets New Record High Vs. Dollar After Weak U.S. GDP

The dollar fell to an all-time low against the euro Friday, after a government report showed the U.S. economy slowed to a real annualized growth rate of 1.3% in the first quarter, marking the weakest expansion in four years.
Thursday, April 26th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
“Special emphasis” at UN on Falklands' dispute promises Argentina

Argentina will display a “special emphasis” in the world's multilateral space in defense of the Argentine claim over the Islas Malvinas sovereignty announced on Wednesday designate ambassador before United Nations, Jorge ArgÃÃ‚Â¼ello.
Thursday, April 26th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina: Junta pardons 'unconstitutional'

A federal appeals court yesterday overturned pardons for former dictators Jorge Videla and Eduardo Massera, saying they must return to prison to serve their life terms for crimes against humanity