Stories for 2008

Monday, March 31st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Falkland Islands Draft Constitution by end of April?

AN updated Falklands Constitution should be ready in draft form by then end of April providing islands councillors and the British Minister for Overseas Territories, Meg Munn, can agree on a number of outstanding issues.
Monday, March 31st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Army joins dengue epidemic combat in Rio do Janeiro

Brazilian Armed Forces joined on Monday the fight against dengue fever in Rio do Janeiro Monday setting up three field hospitals to combat an epidemic that has caused 54 deaths in 2008 and has surged to 1.4 new cases each minute.
Monday, March 31st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Young Combatants Day in Chile leaves one dead, 232 arrests

A young man was killed early Sunday morning during the violent protest commemorating Young Combatants Day. The victim, identified as 24 year old René Palma, was shot and killed by a group of hooded protestors who, according to local news, thought he was a police infiltrator.
Monday, March 31st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
WTO rules against EU import ban of beef with hormones

The World Trade Organization on Monday backed United States and Canadian arguments against the European Union's import ban on beef treated with hormones.
Monday, March 31st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Growing fears for the life of FARC hostage Betancourt

Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt hostage of the FARC guerrilla group since 2002 is again chained following an aborted attempt to escape. The French-Colombian national also desperately needs a blood transfusion because of the several ills she's suffering report the Bogotá and Caracas press.
Monday, March 31st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Raul ends “tourist apartheid”; opens hotels to Cubans

Cuba has opened as of Monday luxury hotels and resorts to all Cubans, ending a ban long described in the island as “tourist apartheid”. This is the latest is a series of decision to lift bans and regulations on goods and services which anyhow most Cubans can't afford.
Sunday, March 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Lights out in climate change event

Sydney was the first major city to begin “Earth Hour”, when at 2000 (0900 GMT), lights went out on landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Sunday, March 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
No end in sight to Andean conflict

President Rafael Correa's outrage over Colombia's cross-border raid on a rebel camp in Ecuador has improved his popularity, strengthening his chances of gaining approval for constitutional reforms later this year.
Sunday, March 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US Fed to be grilled over massive support to financial system

United States Federal Reserve will make a further 100 billion US dollars available to major banks in April, trying to ease concerns about a global credit crunch. The sum, offered across two auctions, is in addition to 260 billion US dollars provided in short-term loans to the end of March.

Other unorthodox steps include the Fed allowing investment banks to borrow from it directly, previously only possible for commercial banks.
Sunday, March 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina's trade surplus soars with commodity prices

Argentina's trade surplus in February jumped 23.5% over a year ago reaching 982 million US dollars, but lower than expected because of a surge in imports according to the latest report from the Institute of Statistics and Census, Indec.