TORONTO, Canada (Reuters): Biovail Corp said on Thursday that it will close operations in Puerto Rico, resulting in charges of $80 million to $100 million in the next few quarters, as it shifts focus to a new line of drugs. The two Puerto Rico closures are expected over the next 18 to 24 months and about 250 employees are affected. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: As gasoline prices have increased in the US, gas prices in Puerto Rico have also dramatically escalated in the past year. In Puerto Rico gasoline is sold by the liter rather than by the gallon as it’s sold in the mainland and, within the next few weeks, consumers will be paying a dollar per liter. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Thousands of Puerto Ricans will finally see some kind of financial relief as the Puerto Rico Treasury Department begins to send out federal economic incentive payments to some 72,000 public workers. The first deposits will be reflected in taxpayer’s accounts between Wednesday and Thursday. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): Aeropostale Inc said on Monday it will open three stores in Puerto Rico this year, the second international expansion for the US teen clothing chain. The stores will be at Plaza Carolina in Carolina, Plaza Las Americas in San Juan and, later this year, at The Prime Outlet Puerto Rico in Barcelonesa. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters): A month after his US federal indictment on campaign finance fraud charges, Puerto Rico Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila said on Sunday he will seek re-election in November. The announcement came at a meeting of Acevedo Vila's Popular Democrat Party in San Juan. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Puerto Rico offered $725 million of debt on Thursday, leading US tax-exempt debt sales, as municipal bonds declined the most in six weeks amid increased issuance. Puerto Rico started selling fixed-rate bonds as part of the commonwealth's plan to refinance or convert auction debt. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: The online community of communicators is changing and the traditional worlds of journalism and public relations need to catch up, declares a Detroit-based marketing and communications expert. "If you're not on Google, the world thinks you don't exist," says Pam Perry. read more...

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ST THOMAS, USVI: The San Juan, Puerto Rico, US Coast Guard Sector issued a press release early Monday morning, indicating that rescue crews had suspended their search Sunday afternoon for a fisherman who went missing Tuesday while traveling from St John, US Virgin Islands to Vieques, Puerto Rico. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters): Popular Inc, the parent of Banco Popular and Puerto Rico's largest bank, said its first-quarter profit fell 13 percent as provision for bad loans rose almost 75 percent due to rise in defaults. Net income for the San Juan-based company fell to $103.3 million, or 36 cents per share. read more...

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WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): Alexander & Baldwin Inc., the parent of ocean-transport company Matson Navigation, and Crowley Maritime Corp. said they are part of a US Justice Department probe into shipping practices to Puerto Rico. At least three maritime operators are being questioned. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Coast Guard rescue crews continued searching on Thursday for a man aboard the fishing vessel Don Chepo who was reported being overdue to Coast Guard watch standers Wednesday as he was traveling from Saint John, US. Virgin Islands to Vieques, Puerto Rico. read more...

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WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): The US Treasury on Wednesday said it approved a $1.282 billion economic stimulus payment to Puerto Rico to be distributed to local residents as "recovery rebates" intended to revive the island's economy.  The payment is part of the broader $152 billion US economic stimulus plan. read more...

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ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (AFP): Unbeaten champion Miguel Cotto posted his fourth-straight title defence by dominating Alfonzo Gomez in a one-sided World Boxing Association welterweight fight on Saturday. "I tried to do everything in this fight, work on my punching and put pressure on him," said Puerto Rico's Cotto. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA: The faith tourism market is big business and one in which the Caribbean should be making greater inroads. Former CNN News anchor Andria Hall said "whether its conferences, crusades, retreats or a girlfriend's getaway, a strong faith tourism strategy is both urgent and prudent for the Caribbean." read more...

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ATLANTIC CITY, USA (AFP): Unbeaten world champ Miguel Cotto will square off against Alfonso Gomez in a title fight which could solidify the Puerto Rican's reputation as a dominant force in the welterweight division. This is the fourth defence of Cotto's World Boxing Association title. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Seasonal travel to the sister Caribbean island of Puerto Rico is a longstanding ritual for many Caribbean nationals. More often than not, the purpose of these travels is serious business. Over time, Caribbean visitors have become increasingly savvy about the choices. read more...

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WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): Bermuda-based Tyco International Ltd, the world's biggest maker of security and fire systems, will close a plant in Puerto Rico and fire 600 employees in order to move the operations to a lower-cost area. The Aguadilla plant will shut in phases over the next 12 months. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Exclude the Hispanic-American market and you make a huge blunder. Americans of Hispanic descent now spend so much that their buying power is estimated to reach US$1.2 trillion by 2011. Reaching the potent Hispanic-American market is one of the issues under discussion. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters): Puerto Rican Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila surrendered to US authorities on Friday and pleaded not guilty to campaign finance fraud charges as hundreds of flag-waving supporters demonstrated outside the federal courthouse in San Juan. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): The Government Development Bank of Puerto Rico, the US commonwealth's financial adviser on bond sales, said Thursday's arrest of Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila on charges of violating campaign finance laws won't interfere with debt-service payments. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters): Puerto Rican Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila and 12 political associates in the Caribbean island and on the US mainland were charged with election funding fraud in an indictment unsealed on Thursday. The charges said Acevedo Vila collected illegal contributions. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: An influential Minister of Tourism, an enlightened Executive Director of Tourism, an expert in Caribbean Diaspora relations, a specialist in branding small hotels, a renowned American journalist, and an expert in the faith tourism market are among the headliners... read more...

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WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The presidential primary in the US territory of Puerto Rico between Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has been moved forward to June 1 from June 7, the Democratic National Committee said Monday. The small Caribbean island has 55 nominating delegates at stake. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): The opening round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic will be played outside the US, with San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as Tokyo, Mexico City and Toronto as host venues. San Juan will host Group D games involving the Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico. read more...

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RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AFP): Greg Kraft fired a two-under par 70 Sunday to win the 3.5 million-dollar Puerto Rico Open by a stroke, giving the US veteran his first official US PGA Tour title in his 379th event. Kraft, who turns 44 in 12 days, finished on 14-under par 274 to edge compatriot Bo Van Pelt. read more...

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MIAMI, USA (Reuters): American Bo van Pelt led by a stroke from compatriot Jerry Kelly after the second round of the Puerto Rica Open in Rio Grande on Friday. Van Pelt, seeking his first PGA Tour win, shot a four-under round of 68 in windier conditions than on Thursday when he fired a 64. read more...

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RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AFP) :Bo Van Pelt, who is seeking his first USPGA Tour win, fired an 8-under-par 64 in Thursday's first round of the Puerto Rico Open on Thursday. Van Pelt holed nine birdies against one bogey Trump International Golf Club to seize a two-stroke lead. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): Doral Financial Corp, a Puerto Rican lender hurt by lawsuits and a fall in mortgage rates, posted a fourth-quarter loss as it set aside a higher amount to meet losses and delinquencies in its loan portfolio. The company reported a net loss of $34.0 million, or 79 cents a share. read more...

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PARIS, France (Reuters): French oil major Total said on Tuesday it had agreed to buy ExxonMobil's marketing assets in Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the US Virgin Islands. The acquisition represents a marketing capacity of around one million tonnes per year through a network of around 200 service stations. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Peurto Rico (Reuters): Lured by the possibility of casting decisive votes in the White House race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Democrats in Puerto Rico have decided to hold a full primary rather than a more casual, and less well-attended, caucus. read more...

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