Stories for April 2015

Thursday, April 9th 2015 - 02:45 UTC
With the end of commodities prices 'super-cycle', UN panel lowers Latin American growth forecast to 1%

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has revised downward its economic growth projection for the region in 2015, forecasting a 1.0% increase in the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the United Nations organization said today in a press release.
Thursday, April 9th 2015 - 01:35 UTC
Brazil inflation soars as electricity rates go up 22% in March and 60.42% in the last 12 months

Consumer prices in Brazil picked up in March, putting the 12-month rate at the highest level in more than eleven years, highlighting one of the main challenges facing Latin America's largest economy in the year ahead. The rolling 12-month IPCA was up 8.13% through March, up from 7.70% in February, remaining well above the central bank's 6.5% ceiling. In the first quarter of the year, prices have risen 3.83%, while the 12-month figure marked the highest level since December 2003, when it reached 9.30%.
Thursday, April 9th 2015 - 00:54 UTC
Pope Francis will meet President Cristina Fernández for the fifth time, next June

Pope Francis and Argentine president Cristina Fernández will meet for the fifth time at the Vatican in June, according to government sources. The head of state will visit the pontiff between June 7 and 9, two months before the PASO primaries and ahead of national elections that are to be held in October. It will be their fifth meeting since Francis was elected and the first one under the administration of Eduardo Valdés, the Argentine Ambassador to the Vatican, appointed in December.
Wednesday, April 8th 2015 - 18:26 UTC
Santos port soy exports expected to resume at slow pace after six-day fire

Brazil’s soy exports will likely slow because a six-day fire at a nearby fuel-storage facility has restricted access to Brazil’s largest port, Santos, a port official and the soy industry association Abiove said. Authorities have agreed to restrict truck access to some terminals at the port at least through Wednesday while flames are extinguished.
Wednesday, April 8th 2015 - 17:40 UTC
Obama/Castro in Panama: 'grip and grin” photo or historic head-to-head sit down?

President Barack Obama will attend a Summit of the Americas in Panama this week, a gathering that could see the first substantive meeting between US and Cuban leaders in half a century.
Wednesday, April 8th 2015 - 17:11 UTC
Bachelet denies any idea of stepping down, because of her family's corruption scandal

“No way, I've never thought of resigning or stepping down” said emphatically Chilean president Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday, following a barrage of media rumors which echoed in the social networks during Holy Week, which in South America in a long weekend holiday.
Wednesday, April 8th 2015 - 16:12 UTC
Falklands, South Atlantic islands, Antarctica included in new Tierra del Fuego official map

Argentina's most southern province identified as Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic islands is redesigning its internal political limits with the purpose of “contributing to the territorial sovereignty of the Nation”, according to a bill sent to the provincial legislative by governor Fabiana Ríos and drafted with help from the Malvinas Question Advisory Observatory.
Wednesday, April 8th 2015 - 14:44 UTC
Argentina's few friends in the world; China and Russia, Cristina Fernandez foreign policy priorities

Argentina's foreign policy, under president Cristina Fernández, has new priorities, China and Russia, according to columnist Joaquin Morales Solá, one of the outstanding political analysts of Argentina. This means a radical change from democratic Argentina (since 1983) when the interests of the country were targeted in Latin America, particularly Brazil, Europe and the US, although the importance of the short list varied according to the different elected presidents.
Tuesday, April 7th 2015 - 22:40 UTC
Falklands oil exploration rig moves to Isobel Deep, following Zebedee drilling success

Following its success with the Zebedee drill, the rig Eirik Raude is moving a short distance to start the second well of the latest Falkland Islands exploration campaign. The next target of the current four prospects exploration campaign is Isobel Deep, later followed by Jayne East and finally Chatham.
Tuesday, April 7th 2015 - 09:24 UTC
FAO Food Price Index down in March helped by a sharp drop in sugar

The FAO Food Price Index continued to decline in March, dropping 1.5 percent from February and 18.7 percent (40 points) below its level a year earlier.