Stories for March 2009

Monday, March 9th 2009 - 14:16 UTC
IMF calls for stimulus plans to extend until 2011

The world should adopt economic stimulus plans that carry well into 2010, and possibly 2011, to ease a global recession and must expand financial regulation across all sectors to prevent a similar crisis in future, said the International Monetary Fund.
Monday, March 9th 2009 - 11:11 UTC
Australia Chile free trade agreement becomes effective

The Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement came into force on Saturday 6 March, the first trade agreement between Oceania and a Latinamerican country. Besides trade the agreement covers services, investments, government purchases and intellectual property plus a special chapter on academic and scientific cooperation.
Monday, March 9th 2009 - 11:01 UTC
Spain confirms fifth human death of mad cow disease

Spain confirmed that a woman has died from the human form of mad cow disease, the fifth such death in Spain since 2005. The victim died in January in the northern city of Santander, according to the statement, released by the Ministry of Health.
Monday, March 9th 2009 - 10:58 UTC
March begins with an electoral setback for the Kirchners

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her husband, former president Nestor Kirchner seem to have suffered on Sunday their first electoral setback of the year, more precisely in the northern province of Catamarca where they openly campaigned in support of the local opposition.
Monday, March 9th 2009 - 10:21 UTC
British Labour apparatus restless about electoral prospects

Former British Cabinet minister Peter Hain has delivered a stark warning that Labour faces electoral disaster unless it adopts a “very different” agenda. In what will be seen as a thinly-veiled attack on Gordon Brown's leadership, Mr Hain insisted the party had lost its “narrative” and was no longer seen as a “credible force for change”.
Monday, March 9th 2009 - 10:12 UTC
Royal message on 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth

On the 60th anniversary of the British Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II message underlines the continuing values and goals on which the organization rests: freedom, democracy and human rights; equality and equity; development and prosperity.
Monday, March 9th 2009 - 09:56 UTC
Bolivia’s Morales heads fumigation campaign against dengue

Bolivian president Evo Morales headed this weekend a massive fumigation and clean up campaign in one of the poor neighbourhoods of the city of Santa Cruz as part of a major effort against the mosquito transmitted dengue disease which has caused so far 22 deaths and an estimated 41.000 cases.
Monday, March 9th 2009 - 09:54 UTC
South America launches council on defence cooperation

Defence ministers from the twelve countries which make up the United Nations of South America, Unasur begin this Monday in Santiago de Chile a round of talks including the launching of the South American Defence Council geared to increase cooperation and dialogue among its members.
Monday, March 9th 2009 - 09:44 UTC
Charles begins tour meeting Chilean president Bachelet

Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in Chile Sunday afternoon the first stop of a South American tour that also includes Brazil and Ecuador which is seen as an opportunity for the heir of the throne to emphasize on one of his passions, climate change. The three days visit to Chile begins officially on Monday when the couple will have an audience with President Michelle Bachelet.
Saturday, March 7th 2009 - 15:09 UTC
Two Cuban figures admit having fallen for the “honey of power”

Two of Cuba's most prominent politicians have resigned from their Communist party and government posts after they were sacked from the cabinet, according to letters published by the Cuban media.