Politics

• Friday, March 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Colombia offers jailed rebels for Ingrid Betancourt

  

  The Colombian government has offered to suspend the sentences of hundreds of rebel fighters from FARC if it frees Ingrid Betancourt, a captive French-Colombian politician, and other hostages.

• Friday, March 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Cuba lifts cellphone restrictions; next month DVDs

  

  Cubans have been allowed unrestricted access to mobile phones for the first time in the latest reform announced under new President Raul Castro. In a statement in official newspaper Granma, state telecom monopoly ETECSA said it would offer mobile services to the public in the next few days.

• Thursday, March 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina farmers' conflict: stalemate traps government

  

  The Argentine government farmers' conflict, on its fourteenth day seems to have reached a stalemate with all actors involved unable to decide what the next step is and adopting increasingly inflexible positions, even possibly loosing control of future events.

• Thursday, March 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Airbus 330-200 to replace RAF TriStar and VC-10 tankers

  

  The Royal Air Force TriStar aircraft which for years have covered the Falklands/Brize Norton air link, together with the VC-10 tankers, will be replaced by a fleet of new Airbus A330-200s under a £13 billion PFI (Private Finance Initiative) deal signed this week with AirTanker Ltd, announced British Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor.

• Thursday, March 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguay: former bishop reaffirms lead in coming election

  

  Former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo continues to lead in the run up to Paraguay's presidential election followed by the incumbent candidate Blanca Olevar, according to the latest public opinion poll.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Extreme tension after CFK speech: indefinite farming strike

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernandez refused to ease tax hikes on agricultural exports Tuesday, facing down angry farmers embroiled in a nationwide strike that has all but halted production in one of the world's biggest beef-exporting nations.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Little chance FARC will free high-profile hostage

  

  There is little chance Colombia rebels will free one-time Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt after that country's March 1 attack on a rebel camp inside Ecuador, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday

• Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  UK: Commons to get vote over war plans

  

  The Prime Minister will in future normally be required to obtain the approval of the House of Commons before sending British forces to war, under plans set out by the Government.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile to spend millions removing borders' landmines

  

  Chile will spend nine million dollars this year to remove thousands of land mines planted along the Argentine, Bolivian and Peruvian borders during a territorial dispute in the late 1970s, according to a report published this week.

• Wednesday, March 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela will help Mercosur become continental block

  

  Mercosur with Venezuela included has “the potential of becoming a trade block of the whole of South America” said Brazilian Foreign Affairs minister Ceslo Amorim who also insisted that keeping out of the Washington inspired Free Trade Area of the Americas, FTAA, “has been positive”.