Stories for December 16th 2006

Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Spanish airline Air Madrid suspends all flights

Privately owned carrier Air Madrid suspended all its flights on Friday, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded over Christmas and blaming its action on a development ministry threat to suspend its license.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Protests spark clashes in Bolivia

At least 50 people were injured on Friday in a clash between supporters and opponents of Bolivian President Evo Morales' government, according local press reports.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Cautious optimism in Latin América

Governments in Latin America and the Caribbean expect a fourth straight year of economic growth in 2006, topped by a jump of 12.5 percent in Cuba, according to a report issued Thursday by the UN economic agency for the region.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean leader proposes soc. sec. reform

President Michelle Bachelet on Friday proposed a shake-up of Chile's widely admired but incomplete private social security system, urging a minimum government pension for 1 million elderly Chileans left out of the current program.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Chavez denies Castro cancer claim

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has dismissed suggestions that Cuban leader and ally Fidel Castro has cancer, but said he was fighting a serious illness.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Top Chilean General removed for praising Pinochet

The aftermath of General Augusto Pinochet's funeral, and legacy, continue to reverberate in Chilean politics and the Chilean Armed Forces: the General responsible for the Metropolitan Santiago area, one of the country's most important was sacked Friday following statements on support of the 1973 military coup and praise for the dictator.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
First ever Spanish airliner lands in Gibraltar

An Airbus 319 from Iberia became Saturday December 16 the first ever Spanish airline to fly to Gibraltar signaling an event that after decades of tension Spain, Britain and Gibraltar are finally overcoming a centennial sovereign dispute by concentrating on cooperation and development.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Pulp mill conflict widens Mercosur rift

Escalating mutual recriminations and complaints between Argentina and Uruguay signaled the first day of deliberations at the Mercosur ministerial meeting in Brasilia in the same week that the group officially inaugurated its Parliament.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina and Brazil promote bilateral trade

Argentina and Brazil signed in Brasilia a protocol for a bilateral trade payments system in local currencies which gradually eliminates the US dollar helping to reduce goods and services transactions costs.
Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
London sq ft can reach as much as 5.860 US dollars

Brimming with posh stores and elegant shoppers, New York City has always held a certain cachet. But there is something that the US's largest city can no longer claim: the world's most expensive residences.