Stories for 2008

Thursday, May 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Fuel prices hiked in Brazil; first time since 2005

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega this week announced a 10% hike in the price of gasoline and 15% for diesel fuel, the first such increase since 2005. The increases refer to products from Petrobras, the country's government owned oil corporation which sets the pace for the rest of the industry.
Thursday, May 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Lula da Silva praises Brazil's two sided “investment grade”

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva celebrated the country's newly acquired investment grade condition and magnet for foreign investment. “Brazil is a serious country, with serious policies, which looks after its finances seriously, and that is why we now have achieved the international trust, which Brazil was after for a long time”
Thursday, May 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Call to defend human rights activists in Colombia

A group of independent United Nations experts have called for urgent measures to protect those defending human rights in Colombia, following a recent surge in violence that includes killings, harassment and intimidation of civil society activists, trade union leaders and lawyers representing victims.
Thursday, May 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Inflation, the main concern for majority of Argentines

Inflation has become the main concern of a majority of Argentines, leaving aside other issues such as insecurity and poverty according to the latest public opinion polls from Ibarometro and Hugo Haime & Associates, released this week in Buenos Aires and which refers to the second half of April.
Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentine minister denies Cristina-Nestor “dual command”

Argentine Justice Minister Aníbal Fernández has denied there is a “dual command” governing the country and said that President Cristina Fernández is the one in charge, not her husband, former President Néstor Kirchner.
Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Spanish court rejects extradition of former Argentine president

However Spain's highest court has ruled that Peron, 77, was not implicated in the death squad's activities. The Anti-Communist Alliance or Triple A as it was known, murdered as many as 15-hundred people, according to human rights groups. The killings have been described as the start of Argentina's “dirty war” against leftist dissidents under subsequent military juntas.
Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mrs. Kirchner denies rift with Spain over air flag carrier

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner underlined on Monday the close relations with Spain and vehemently denied tensions over the situation of Aerolíneas Argentinas whose major shareholders are Spanish and allegedly room is being made for Argentine investors to join.
Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US and Uruguay sign technology cooperation accord

United States and Uruguay signed on Tuesday a bilateral agreement to promote and increase cooperation in Science and Technology. The agreement was signed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Uruguay's Foreign Affairs minister Gonzalo Fernandez during a ceremony at the State Department.
Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Power failure causes panic in crime-ridden Venezuelan capital

A major power blackout hit almost 40% of Venezuela's territory and left Caracas in the dark for hours on Tuesday. Power was restored to most regions and Caracas by mid-evening. However a feeling of panic invaded Caracas because the transport system grounded to a halt and commuters had to walk through the crime-ridden city.
Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Falklands councillor talks tourism at conference

A Falklands councillor invited to give an opening presentation at a tourism industry infrastructure meeting in Gibraltar will describe the Falklands experience in setting up an industry from nothing.