Stories for 2007

Friday, August 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Raul's Cuba invites UN envoy and quietly frees political prisoners

Cuba's ambassador to the Unite Nations Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios said Friday that the country is ready to resume co-operation with the UN on human rights, given the changes that have taken place in the organization.
Friday, August 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Magallanes Region has the lowest unemployment in Chile, 2.4%

Magallanes and Porvenir in Tierra del Fuego respectively were the Chilean region and city with the lowest unemployment rate in the May-July quarter, according to the latest release from the national Statistics Institute (INE).
Friday, August 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Most powerful woman blasts credit and risk rating agencies

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaking in Tokyo criticized credit ratings agencies for not spotting companies with problems amid the current market instability. German banks have been the worst hit in Europe so far by the problems linked to the US sub-prime mortgage crisis.
Friday, August 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Wheat prices at all times record soar to 8 dollars per bushel

Wheat prices on Friday surged more than 6% to a fresh all-time high driven by thin global supplies and heavy export demand. The sharp price increase, which came on top of the 5% jump on Thursday, reinforced fears of a spike in food inflation as industry begins to pass the costs on to consumers.
Friday, August 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Britain marks 10th anniversary of Princess Diana death

Prince Harry has told a service to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, that she was “the best mother in the world”. Family and friends this Friday joined Princes William and Harry for the service at Guards' Chapel near Buckingham Palace.
Friday, August 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Bernanke and Bush: no interest rate cuts to bail out investors

Chairman Ben Bernanke offered no clear signal that the Federal Reserve is poised to cut interest rates in a speech to central bankers on Friday, even as he reaffirmed its commitment to take into account the likely effects of financial market turmoil on the economy.
Thursday, August 30th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Falklands appoints “modernizer” as new Chief Executive

The Falkland Islands Government announced on Wednesday the appointment of Tim Thorogood as its next Chief Executive. Normal pre-contract formalities will now begin but it is expected that Mr. Thorogood, 45, will arrive in the Islands in January 2008.
Thursday, August 30th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Fed prepared “to act as needed” to mitigate adverse effects

Ben Bernanke said in a letter to an influential New York Senator that the Federal Reserve is ready “to act as needed” to help the US economy if the current market turmoil spills over into the broader economy.
Thursday, August 30th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Mixed trading in global markets on hopes of lower interest rates

United States shares recovered Wednesday almost all of Tuesday's heavy falls with the Dow Jones index gaining 1.9% as investors looked to pick up bargains. Increased hopes that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates following a letter from Chairman Ben Bernanke buoyed investors
Thursday, August 30th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Uruguay/Argentina relations fall to bottom rock level

To the backdrop of several dozen Argentine protesters in a flotilla of boats and dinghies, Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez on Wednesday inaugurated storage facilities and improved docks in a port serving a controversial new pulp mill built in Uruguay by Finnish pulp producer Botnia.