Stories for April 2008

Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Paraguayan election, another energy challenge for Brazil

Energy and energy security has snowballed as an issue in the last leg of the Paraguayan presidential election of next Sunday, April 20. The two heavy weight neighbors are highly dependent on Paraguayan energy resources and all Paraguayan leading candidates have promised a review of the contracts “which are most unfair for our country”.
Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
China becomes world's second exporter ahead of US

China overtook United States as the world's second exporter of goods in 2007, while Germany remains top of the ranking according to the latest data from the World Trade Organization, WYO.
Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Merrill Lynch posts losses of 6.5 billion in first quarter

Merrill Lynch posted its third straight quarterly loss, its first of 2008, after more write-downs linked to the embattled credit markets. The world's largest brokerage lost 6.5 billion US dollars in write downs on subprime mortgages and other risky assets.
Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Lula da Silva defends bio-fuels and attacks farm subsidies

Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made an impassioned defense of bio-fuels rejecting that they are responsible for the recent rise in global food prices during the opening ceremony of a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, conference in Brasilia.
Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chilean Central Bank purchases help to prop US dollar

The dollar closed in Santiago money markets at 456.6 Chilean pesos on Thursday, up from 434.1 Chilean pesos a week ago. This rapid gain comes in the wake of Chile's Central Bank's announcement last week that it would buy 8 billion US dollars over the course of the year.
Wednesday, April 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
ISA virus forces closure of salmon processor in Chile

One of southern Chile's most renowned salmon processing plants, Chinquihue belonging to Norwegian company Marine Harvest and located in Puerto Montt was unexpectedly closed down April 12 leaving 600 workers redundant. The original idea was to close the plant in late June.
Wednesday, April 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mistrust climate in Argentine farmers and government dialogue

In a growing climate of mistrust Argentine farmers representatives and government officials agreed Tuesday to meet again Wednesday when they expect answers to several proposals, particularly an end to the temporary ban of wheat exports.
Wednesday, April 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Falkland Islands King Penguin colony increasing

The first pair of King penguins to reside in the Falkland Islands stepped ashore at Volunteer Point, 30 miles north east of Port Stanley, in 1948.
Tuesday, April 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Renewed Chinese interest in Repsol Latinamerican assets

China National Petroleum Corp may bid for the Latin American assets of Repsol YPF if the Spanish group decides to offer them again for sale, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday citing sources.
Tuesday, April 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Hello Miami: Long lines in Cuba for cellular phones

Hundreds of Cubans queued for blocks outside phone stores on Monday to sign up for cellular phone service for the first time. Contracts cost about 120 US dollars and do not include a phone or credit to make and receive calls.