Stories for February 1st 2008
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update
Headlines: An avian checkup; Smoking ban moves closer; Mine clearance: Britain explores its options; 'Encouraging' outlook for illex season.
Obama, Clinton smooth over spats in Hollywood debate
The historic choice for the Democratic presidential nominee came into clear focus at the final Democratic debate Thursday between the two candidates left standing - Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - who smoothed over their recent spats and turned most of their attacks on Republicans.
Alcoa and China up stakes in mining premier league
China has teamed up with US aluminum giant Alcoa to buy a 12% stake in Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto for 14 billion US dollars. The state-owned Aluminum Corp of China (Chinalco) said the purchase was the largest Chinese investment overseas.
Climate tests China's power; concern over food supplies
With forecasts of more snow and ice, chaos in the transport and energy systems that has left millions stranded or without electricity and water, Chinese authorities are desperately trying to convince people the situation is under control.
OPEC leaves output unchanged: market remains well supplied
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, left its oil production ceiling unchanged on Friday ignoring United States demands for an increase. The cartel insisted that the market remained well supplied and seemed to focus on supporting prices which have fallen 10% since the beginning of the year.
Australia/Japan summit to address whaling dispute
Australia's Foreign Affairs minister Stephen Smith warned Friday of tougher action to stop Japan whaling, despite calls for calm from both sides over the increasingly emotive dispute.
Brazil “optimistic” about its 5% growth estimate for 2008
Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega said that “for the moment” there's no reason to change the country's growth estimate of 5% for 2008, in spite of global recession fears, which he believes will impact most on developed countries.
Paraguay, candidate for Mercosur lady presidents' club
Paraguay's decades ruling party Partido Colorado formally registered this week a woman and former Education Minister as its candidate for the coming presidential election of April 20. She's the first woman in the country's history to run for president.
