Stories for January 2nd 2008
Pope calls peace 'divine gift' in New Year's mass
Peace is a “divine gift,” Pope Benedict XVI said Tuesday in his traditional New Year's Day mass, stressing the role of the family as an agent of peace.
Hostage rescue in Colombia collapses
A Venezuelan-led mission to rescue three hostages, including a 3-year old boy, from leftist rebels in Colombia's jungles fell apart Monday as the guerrillas accused Colombia's military of sabotaging the promised handoff.
Stomach bug downs passengers on 'cursed' ship
Cunard's £300 million MS Queen Victoria - which was officially launched by Camilla in Southampton three weeks ago when she failed to successfully smash the champagne bottle on its side - has been struck by a potentially fatal stomach bug.
Venezuela launches new currency to stem inflation
Venezuela launched a new currency with the New Year, lopping off three zeros from denominations in a bid to simplify finances and boost confidence in a money that has been losing value due to high inflation.
Fidel Castro's New Year's message read on TV
Ailing leader Fidel Castro saluted the Cuban people for their “50 years of resistance” against the United States in a written message read on state television shortly before the first minutes of the New Year.
Ban Ki-moon struggles to raise UN profile
Flying 350,000km and visiting 39 countries, Ban Ki-moon has put tireless energy into his first year as UN secretary-general but has struggled to raise the profile of the much-criticized body.
Paris and Berlin ban cafe smoking beginning Jan 1
Smoking has been banned in bars in the capitals of France and Germany but the laws will not be enforced immediately.
Individual privacy protection worsened in 2007, report says
Privacy protection for individuals worsened around the globe in 2007, as governments stepped up surveillance and data-gathering to improve security, according to a report by two advocacy groups.
Russia looks to nuclear cooperation with Uruguay
Russia looks to cooperation in the nuclear energy sphere with Uruguay, the country's ambassador to the Latin American state said on Monday.
Analysts see prospect of 100-dollar oil in 2008
Oil prices of near 100 dollars per barrel caused alarm in consuming countries in 2007 and analysts forecast another tense crude market this year with triple-figure records a real prospect.
