Stories for December 2008
Cocaine in Falklands: RAF Corporal and Air Dog Leo commended
RAF Corporal Kevin Carver and Air Dog Leo have received further recognition for their part in the discovery in the Falkland Islands of 30 kilos of cocaine on board the Spanish flagged fishing vessel Venturer last October 29.
Less fertilizer use anticipates smaller 08/09 crop in Brazil
Brazil's 2008/09 harvest is forecasted to experience a loss of 5 to 10% compared to the previous record crop of 143 million tons, according to Katia Abreu, president of the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation CNA.
South Georgia stamps celebrate centenary links to Falklands
A new stamp issue celebrating the “Centenary of Letters Patent”, formally defining South Georgia as part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies has been released.
Recession will 'set British economy back five years'
Households must not rule out the prospect that the UK's economy shrinks by between 5 per cent and 10 per cent next year if the financial crisis sets off an even more vicious cycle of cutbacks, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research.
Jobs opportunities down, lay offs up in Chilean economy
Despite government pleas to the contrary, some of Chile's largest industries have already begun laying off workers en masse, evidence that the global financial crisis is beginning to take serious hold here.
War reparations' claim divides Germany and Italy
Germany has filed a complaint against Italy at the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) over Italian judgments awarding damages to victims of Nazi war crimes on the grounds that it has already paid reparations under international treaties with Italy.
Russia devalues rouble, and prepared “to address crisis”
Russia has devalued its currency, the rouble, for the third time this week and the seventh time this month. It takes it to its lowest value against the US dollar since January 2006.
The Russian currency has been hit by the price of oil, which is Russia's main export. Oil prices are more than 100 US dollars a barrel below their July peak.
Brazil health office to buy and distribute 1.2 billion condoms
Brazil's Health Ministry announced it will purchase 1.2 billion condoms next year for the country's national program against AIDS, according to Brazilian media reports.
Christmas celebration with Emma Darwin's Recipe Book
A cookbook based on notes by Charles Darwin's wife Emma, has been published in Britain, a fascinating testimony of Victorian times. Emma Darwin's Recipe Book features more than 40 dishes from her personal cookery notebook, which is housed in Cambridge University Library.
President Bush revokes pardon to NY property developer
US President George W Bush has taken the unusual step of reversing a pardon he had announced only a day earlier for a New York property developer. Isaac Robert Toussie, convicted of making false statements to a government department and mail fraud, was one of 19 people President Bush pardoned on Tuesday.
