Stories for December 2008

Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Lula da Silva signs bill creating sovereign wealth fund

Brazilian President Lula da Silva has signed a law creating a sovereign wealth fund to protect the country from the global financial crisis and help Brazilian companies boost trade and expand overseas.
Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands request representation in de-mining work force

Falkland Islands Councillors have made a formal request to UK authorities for what a spokesperson described as, “full and proper representation of the Falkland Islands view”, in the proposed working party on de-mining in the Falklands.
Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Lan reduces air fuel surcharge and slashes fares

Chile's leading airline Lan and Sky Airlines have virtually eliminated the fuel surcharge in all domestic flights and slashed fares, in line with the falling prices of fuel, reports the Financial and Business section of Santiago's main daily El Mercurio.
Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
FIG: Falklands-UK airbridge fares “unaffordable”

The fare structure of the air bridge linking the Falkland Islands with Britain will not be reconsidered according to British officials. Falkland Islands Government (FIG) considers the price of seats as “unaffordable”.
Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Industrial production in Japan drops record 8% in November

Official figures have revealed that Japanese manufacturing has dropped at its fastest rate on record, with companies closing factories and cutting jobs. Industrial output in Japan plummeted by a record 8% in November compared with the previous month.
Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Vancouver, best place in the world to live; in Latam, Montevideo

Vancouver is the world's best place to live, a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has found. In Latinamerica Montevideo, Santiago and Buenos Aires are the most “liveable” although none of them offers ideal conditions.
Thursday, December 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Economic woes and insecurity underlined in Queen's message

Britain's economic problems and the “insecurity” people are feeling in today's uncertain times were acknowledged by the Queen in her Christmas Day message.
Thursday, December 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China's Yuan first steps to replace US dollar in Asian trade

China has said it is to allow some trade with its neighbours to be settled with its currency the Yuan. The pilot scheme was announced in a package of measures designed to help exporters hit by the global downturn.
Thursday, December 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Lula da Silva choice confirmed as presidential hopeful

Brazil's ruling Workers Party, (PT) has announced its full support for cabinet chief Dilma Rousseff as candidate for the presidential elections of 2010. PT chairman Ricardo Berzoni made the official statement last Wednesday after meeting with President Lula da Silva in Government House, Planalto.
Thursday, December 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Wiesel foundation looses all assets to Madoff's Ponzi fraud

The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity lost more than 15 million US dollars, nearly all of its assets, in the fraud scheme run by Wall Street financer Bernard Madoff, the fund said Wednesday in a short release.