Stories for April 2013

Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 06:18 UTC
Maduro calls on Washington for dialogue, but based on ‘respect’ and ‘no threats’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro named a new acting head of its US diplomatic mission in Washington and sent an offer of dialogue after attacking the United States for “interference” in a row over his election.
Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 06:14 UTC
Eight years late Cuba’s Ladies in White collect the Sakharov Prize

Members of the Cuban dissident group Ladies in White collected Tuesday the Sakharov Prize that the European Parliament awarded them in 2005, and in the process had harsh words to say about the situation in their homeland.
Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 06:03 UTC
Latam/Caribbean region forecasted to expand 3.5% propped by domestic demand

Latin American and Caribbean countries will grow on average 3.5% this year supported by a strong domestic demand and the improved performance of Argentina and Brazil compared with 2012, according to the latest “Updated economic review of Latin America and the Caribbean 2012’ from the UN Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, ECLAC.
Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 05:56 UTC
South American football president resigns on ‘health and personal grounds’

South American football president Nicolas Leoz has resigned on Tuesday from FIFA powerful executive committee on “health and personal” grounds. Leoz was accused by the BBC Panorama program in November 2010 of taking bribes in the 1990s from the now defunct sports rights agency ISL.
Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 05:49 UTC
Brazil to the rescue of the sugar-ethanol industry with lower taxes and soft credit

The Brazilian government has come to the rescue of the sugar-ethanol industry announcing that as of next May first the mandatory content of ethanol in gasoline will increase from 20% to 25%, taxes on the sugar-cane fuel will be eliminated and there will be soft loans to keep expansion going.
Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 01:47 UTC
Falkland Island''s tells MPs ‘we’re no quaint toy town’ on suggestion of changing Stanley’s name

A suggestion by some British senior Members of Parliament advocating a change of name for the Falkland Islands capital, Stanley to Port Margaret Thatcher in honour of the late Baroness had a strong reply from the local weekly, Penguin News.
Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 01:34 UTC
Falklands’ debates contribution to Baroness Thatcher’s funeral costs

The UK public opinion controversy over the cost of Baroness Thatcher’s funeral has reached the Falkland Islands where a member of the public proposed a ‘six figure’ contribution towards the event from the local government.
Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 01:06 UTC
Chile’s growing concern with soaring Peso and plummeting dollar in local market

Chilean authorities are feeling “calmer” with the exchange rate nearing 480 pesos per US dollar, Finance Minister Felipe Larrain said on Tuesday, as the currency retreated from the year-and-a-half highs it reached earlier this month.
Wednesday, April 24th 2013 - 01:02 UTC
Battered Piñera sends a lady to prop his administration and challenge Michele

Chilean president Sebastian Piñera on Monday named the head of a government agency that promotes gender equality to be the new education minister. Carolina Schmidt replaces Harald Beyer, who was impeached by Congress last week.
Tuesday, April 23rd 2013 - 21:17 UTC
Will Cartes fall prey to the past or make Paraguay part of an emerging new Latinamerica?

By R. Viswanathan (*) - Horacio Cartes of the Colorado party won the presidential elections held last Sunday in Paraguay. The Colorados had ruled the country continuously for 61 years in a one-party dictatorship until 2008 when Fernando Lugo, the leftist “Bishop of the Poor” defeated the Colorado candidate and made history.