Stories for April 2008

Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina after 8 billion in loans for infrastructure

Argentina's Economy Ministry Martín Lousteau with a delegation of provincial governors and experts from his office traveled to Miami for the annual meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank to discuss terms for a four year credit program totaling 8 billion US dollars in infrastructure and education.
Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Aerial target technology first deployed in Falklands

The first operational deployment of the Combined Aerial Target Service, CATS is scheduled to be shipped this month to the Falkland Islands garrison where they will be used to train British Army ground based air defense units stationed in the Islands reports Technology News Daily, TND.
Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
New Zealand breaks ground signing free trade pact with China

New Zealand became on Monday the first developed nation to sign a free-trade agreement with China. Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, witnessed the signing of the pact in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Ben-Hur actor Charlton Heston dies at 84

Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing “Ben-Hur” and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s, has died. He was 84.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez nationalizes cement industry; Mexico condemns

Mexico yesterday condemned Venezuela's planned nationalization of the cement industry, which will affect Cemex, a major Mexican company.

“We can only condemn this action,” Finance Minister Agustín Carstens said in the city of Acapulco.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
World Bank lowers Latinamerica growth prospects to 4.8%

The World Bank lowered Latin America's growth estimate for 2008 to 4.8% from 5.1% as a consequence of the economic slowdown in United States, said vice president for the region Pamela Cox.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Salmon industry controversy between Chile and NY Times

Chilean media reports that The New York Times “finally published an extract” from the letter sent by the Chilean Ambassador in United States, Mariano Fernandez relative to the Chilean salmon industry which was harshly criticized by the influential newspaper.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Wealthy China is good for the world, says Bill Gates

China's growing wealth is good for the world, and there will come a time when the influence of the United States shrinks to the level of its share of the world population, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said at a meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank, IDB in Miami.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Methanex to recover full capacity production in 2011

The huge methanol producing complex belonging to Methanex in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile, will only recover full capacity production in three years time, 2011, when a sustained provision of Chilean natural gas is ensured, according to Bruce Aitken, CEO of the Canadian corporation.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Magallanes has Chile's lowest unemployment rate

Magallanes in the extreme south of Chile continues as the region with the lowest unemployment in the country according to the latest release referred to the December/07-February/08 quarter.