Stories for April 2009

Thursday, April 16th 2009 - 02:51 UTC
The Taiwan Relations Act at 30: Enduring Framework or Accidental Success?

Despite its pragmatic origin, ambiguous nature and transitory design, a unique piece of legislation has guided US-Taiwan relations for longer than many ever anticipated. By Vincent Wei-cheng Wang*
Thursday, April 16th 2009 - 01:24 UTC
Valparaiso port expects less cruise activity next season

Chile’s Valparaiso port authorities confirmed that 15 cruise voyages that were planning to visit the port next season have now been suspended. Making matters even worse, vacation cruise companies Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Discovery confirmed they no longer plan to dock in Chile because of high operational costs.
Thursday, April 16th 2009 - 01:16 UTC
Mafia chief who inspired “The French Connection” dies in Argentina

François Chiappe, the fearsome Corsican capo-mafia who inspired the famous film “The French Connection” in 1971 died in a geriatric home in the Argentine province of Cordoba last February, according to reports in the Sunday press.
Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 10:47 UTC
Summit of the Americas, “test of intelligence and shame” says Fidel Castro

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday Cuba had no desire to rejoin the “infamous” and “vile” decadent Organization of American States, and said the coming Summit of the Americas next week end in Trinidad Tobago will be “a test of intelligence and shame”.
Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 10:46 UTC
Paraguay bishops ask “forgiveness for the sins of church members”

Paraguay’s influential Catholic Church Episcopal Conference, CEP asked Tuesday in an official release “forgiveness for all the sins of the members of the Church” in direct reference, --but without mentioning a word--, to President Fernando Lugo’s confession of fathering a child while he was Catholic bishop.
Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 10:45 UTC
Lower House approves Brazil’s Sovereign Wealth Fund

Brazil’s Congress Lower House approved on Tuesday night approved legislation making an existing Sovereign Wealth Fund into a permanent fixture. The Chamber of Deputies voted 274-102 to approve a government bill making the fund permanent and approving an initial total for it of 14.2 billion Brazilian Reales, approximately 6.5 billion US dollars.
Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 10:43 UTC
Kirchner denies recession and insists Argentina continues to expand

Two reliable private consultants and advisors confirmed that the Argentine economy has gone through two consecutive negative quarters, thus in recession. However former president Nestor Kirchner denies any recession and insists that the Argentine economy keeps expanding.
Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 09:05 UTC
Bolivia expects 17% oil tax and royalties revenue drop in 2009

Bolivia is forecasting a 17% fall in its hydrocarbons tax and royalties revenues because of the fall in the international price of gas and oil sold to Argentina and Brazil according to official reports.
Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 09:02 UTC
Colombia to explore for oil offshore Brazil

Colombian state-owned oil company Ecopetrol S.A. said Tuesday it signed an agreement with US-based Anadarko Petroleum Coporation to explore for crude oil off the coast of Brazil. Ecopetrol's subsidiary in Brazil will hold a 50% stake in block BMC-29, the company said in a statement.
Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 08:54 UTC
Paraguayan president gives his name to love-child

The mother of the two year old child fathered by Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo confirmed she had desisted of the demand following the former Catholic bishop paternity admission and promise to give him his name.