Stories for April 2009

Friday, April 24th 2009 - 04:51 UTC
EC determined to radical fisheries reform and lower catch capacity

The European Commission (EC) has raised the issue of radically reforming the European Union (EU) Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to Member States, in favour of an important reduction of the fishing capacity, among other points.
Friday, April 24th 2009 - 04:49 UTC
Correa and his revolution poised for easy re-election in Ecuador

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa is poised to easily win re-election on Sunday, according to the latest public opinion polls which show he has about 50% support and way ahead of his seven rivals.
Friday, April 24th 2009 - 04:05 UTC
US Supreme Court ruling ray of hope for undocumented immigrants

The United States Supreme Court made it easier this week for undocumented immigrants seeking to avoid deportation to get another chance at a court hearing. The decision came in the case of Jean Marc Nken, from Cameroon, who came to the United States in 2001 and did not leave when his visa expired.
Friday, April 24th 2009 - 04:00 UTC
Mercosur is going through “one of its worst moments”

Mercosur is going through “one of its worst moments” and has several “pending critical issues” such as “free circulation of goods and people and mitigating asymmetries” said Walter Cancela head of Uruguay’s Economic Affairs, Integration and Mercosur Office.
Friday, April 24th 2009 - 03:43 UTC
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs could be out of jail next July

Britain’s Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs is facing an anxious wait to learn if he will be freed from jail after his parole hearing adjourned Thursday without a result. A spokesman for the Parole Board said a decision was likely by July this year, when Biggs becomes eligible for release after serving a third of his sentence.
Thursday, April 23rd 2009 - 13:39 UTC
IMF more upbeat about Chilean economy than the locals

Chile's GDP will likely grow a marginal 0.1% on the year in 2009, recovering to a 3% in 2010, said the International Monetary Fund in its April World Economic Outlook released Wednesday. The IMF outlook is more optimistic than local analysts' outlook who forecast the Chilean economy will contract 0.5% this year.
Thursday, April 23rd 2009 - 13:33 UTC
Coming battle to reform IMF and World Bank decision making process

This week-end, ministers of finance and central bankers will meet with officials of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington to address the reform of the two global financial institutions, which were created by the United States and its allies to fund and guide economic development after World War II.
Thursday, April 23rd 2009 - 13:27 UTC
Slower Brazilian economy cuts current account deficit by half

Brazil’s current account deficit dropped by half in the first quarter compared to a year ago as businesses cut imports and sent less money to parent companies abroad amid slower economic growth. According to the latest release from the Central Bank the deficit narrowed to 5 billion US dollars in the first quarter of the year compared to 10.3 billion in the same period in 2008.
Thursday, April 23rd 2009 - 13:19 UTC
Cuban regime coming to an end, Hillary tells US Congress

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that Cuban President Raul Castro’s current regime “is ending” and that the US must prepare to deal with a new reality on the island.
Thursday, April 23rd 2009 - 13:15 UTC
Development banks pledge 90 billion USD for Latinamerica

Leading multilateral development banks announced Wednesday they will increase their support to Latin America and the Caribbean by providing as much as 90 billion US dollars during the next two years in a joint effort to spur economic growth in the region by coordinating their crisis response initiatives.