Stories for April 2013

Monday, April 8th 2013 - 00:49 UTC
Bachelet pledges to make Chilean education free and accessible at all levels

Former Chilean president and pre-candidate for this year’s election, Michelle Bachelet announced during her first campaign rally that if elected her first bill will be addressed to put an end to ‘education for profit’ and make schooling at all levels free and accessible to all.
Monday, April 8th 2013 - 00:45 UTC
Falklands’ delegation meets in Panama with keen interest in referendum results

Panama City. (Special for MercoPress). As part of an on-going tour of Central America, Falkland Islands lawmaker Dr Barry Elsby and young Islander Krysteen Ormond spent four days in Panama building links and sharing the results of the Islands’ historic March 10/1 referendum.
Monday, April 8th 2013 - 00:40 UTC
What do the Falkland Islands continue to tell us about territorial world views?

By Klaus Dodds (*) - The last couple of weeks have been busy ones when it comes to news about the Falkland Islands. Or Islas Malvinas as Argentine and other readers might insist upon. For others, the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) is the preferred naming option — highlighting as it does their continued contested status.
Monday, April 8th 2013 - 00:22 UTC
Brazil new defence purchases policy based on ‘geopolitical interests and technology transfer’

Brazil’s defence purchases mainly arms will be ruled by strategic priorities such as geopolitical interests and technology transfers and not only price, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette from the Union.
Monday, April 8th 2013 - 00:04 UTC
Brazil exporters anticipate May/June port chaos with soy, sugar and corn crops coincide

The logistics chaos in the Brazilian port of Santos (one of the busiest of the country) in mid March with the first shipments of a record soy crop will become even worse in May and June, according to the Jose Augusto de Castro, president of the Brazilian Association of Foreign Trade, AEB.
Sunday, April 7th 2013 - 23:58 UTC
Brazil planning agency to manage fluvial ports, waterways and locks

The administration of President Dilma Rousseff is working on the creation of a new agency which will be responsible for Brazil’s fluvial ports and terminals, waterways and locks. The ‘Hidrobras’ project is being drafted by the Ministries of Transport and Planning and will look after shipping in the fluvial system, “which is currently exploited far below its possibilities and potential”.
Saturday, April 6th 2013 - 04:14 UTC
“Nothing or nobody” can separate Argentina and Uruguay, Mujica tells the world

Despite Uruguayan President Jose Mujica had anticipated he would give no further explanations about his at least controversial remarks about Argentina’s presidencial couple, Cristina and Néstor Kirchner, the Uruguayan leader on Friday midday stated in his daily broadcast that “nothing or nobody” could separate the brotherly nations.
Saturday, April 6th 2013 - 04:02 UTC
S&P strong warning to UK on continuing negative outlook for the economy

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's has reaffirmed its triple-A rating for the UK, but warned of the continuing negative outlook for the economy. S&P said it may downgrade the UK from the highest rating in the future if economic conditions worsened.
Saturday, April 6th 2013 - 03:55 UTC
Francis calls for “decisive action” in the fight against sex abuse of minors by priest

Pope Francis has called for “decisive action” in the fight against sex abuse of minors by priests. He told Bishop Gerhard Mueller, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith - the Vatican watchdog that deals with sex abuse cases - to ensure that perpetrators were punished.
Saturday, April 6th 2013 - 03:50 UTC
Brazil claims trade situation with Argentina is “less than satisfactory”

Brazil admitted that the trade situation with Argentina is “less than satisfactory”, given the ongoing barriers and restrictions imposed by Buenos Aires and revealed that the bilateral trade balance is now inclined in favour of its southern neighbour and Mercosur associate.