Politics

• Tuesday, April 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Spain to halt economic decline with US style incentive package

  

  Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero promised short-term measures and US style incentives to halt an economic decline, especially in the construction sector, over his second term.

• Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Mrs. Kirchner after Argentina's return to money markets

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner joined on Sunday thousands who marched in downtown Paris calling for the release of French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt who was kidnapped by FARC rebels six years ago, and is alleged to be seriously ill with fear of life.

• Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Charity run Falklands leg delayed by Argentina

  

  DESPITE interference by Argentine authorities, Blind Dave Heeley's inspirational challenge to complete seven marathons on seven continents in seven days got off to a spectacular and successful start with a jet fly past at Mount Pleasant Complex, Falkland Islands at 00:01 GMT on Monday 7 April.

• Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF tightens budget and decides to sell 403 tons of gold

  

  The International Monetary Fund's executive board approved Monday a broad financial overhaul plan that includes the sale of 403 tons of its gold holdings as part of a radical plan to shore up its finances.

• 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.

• Saturday, April 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Malvinas veterans demand identification of comrades' remains

  A group of Malvinas veterans who last week on the anniversary of the beginning of the conflict visited the Falkland Islands, called on the Argentine government for the identification of all combatants buried in the Argentine cemetery at Darwin, reports the Buenos Aires press.

• Saturday, April 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile and Argentina launch Cruz del Sur Joint Peace Force

  The Joint Chiefs of Staff from the combined Argentine Chilean Peace Force, Cruz del Sur (Southern Cross) was officially imposed this week in Santiago and described as “another landmark” in the bilateral relation of the neighboring countries.

• Saturday, April 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brown and Bachelet call for a “new progressive agenda”

  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chilean president Michelle Bachelet underlined on Friday the urgent need for “a new progressive agenda” to tackle global issues such as climate change, globalization, poverty and inequality in the developing world.

• Saturday, April 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Bachelet meets Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle

  “Chilean British relations are excellent” said President Michelle Bachelet following the half hour private meeting on Friday with Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor Castle. Ms Bachelet is on an official visit to Britain that includes her participation in a political conference of centre left leaders hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.