Stories for October 17th 2007

Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
OPEC blames oil record prices on market speculation

As oil prices hit new records the cartel of oil exporting countries promised Tuesday to respond to any supply disruption but also expressed concern about the rising prices which it attributes largely to “market speculations”.
Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Odyssey ship arrested after gunpoint encounter at sea

'Odyssey Explorer', the flag ship of the treasure hunting sea archaeologists Odyssey Marine Exploration (OME), has been arrested along with its captain by the Spanish authorities following a dramatic gunpoint encounter at sea three miles south of Gibraltar.
Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands and MOD discussing improving airbridge “quality”

The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) are in negotiations with the UK Foreign Office to improve the 'quality and deliverability' to Islanders of the military airbridge between the islands and UK.
Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
IMF forecasts 5.5% expansion in Argentina next year

Argentina is forecasted to expand 5.5% in 2008, the strongest in the region behind Venezuela and Peru according to prospects from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund released Wednesday.
Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
US Lower House votes four year extension for internet tax ban

The United States House of Representatives approved Wednesday a new four-year ban on state or local taxation of Internet over the objections of both Republicans and Democrats seeking a permanent ban. The current three-year ban on access taxes expires on November first.
Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Migrant workers' remittances reached 300 billion in 2006

Migrant workers sent home more than 300 billion US dollars to their families in developing countries in 2006, according to a study released Wednesday in Washington, D.C. by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
EU warns China about “deeply unequal” trade relationship

The European Union trade relationship with China is “deeply unequal” said EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson stressing that the EU sells more goods to Switzerland than to China.
Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
UK preparing sea bed claims off British Antarctica

The United Kingdom has increased the list of claims of seabed rights to include a large chunk off Antarctica, an area of over a million square kilometers, according to reports in the British press quoting a spokes-woman from the Foreign Office.
Wednesday, October 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Holland edge closer to Euro '08 qualification

Holland are virtually certain to qualify for the 2008 European Championships after an unimpressive 2-0 victory over Slovenia. The Dutch need just two points against the bottom teams Luxembourg and Belarus to be certain of qualification.