Stories for January 12th 2008

Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Euro and UK keep rates on hold; stern bankers' message

The European Central Bank and Bank of England, despite growing unease about inflation and slowing economic indicators, on Thursday kept their benchmark interest rates unchanged at 4% and 5.5% respectively.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China's trade surplus & reserves soar to record highs in 2007

China's trade surplus soared 48% in 2007 to a record high 262.2 billion US dollars as its export-led economic boom continued government figures have shown.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Air conditioner census to combat power cuts in Argentina

Although the Argentine government refuses to use the word “crisis”, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner launched Friday the energy rational consumption program geared to alleviate the power cuts and shortages that have plagued the city of Buenos Aires and metropolitan area.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chile backs proposal for Dakar Rally in South America

The Chilean government will back a proposal to bring the Dakar Rally to South America after terrorist threats forced the cancellation of the off-road endurance race traditionally staged across the Sahara desert.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Cuba waiting for Lula da Silva and promises of investment

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is scheduled to visit Cuba next week offering investments, but Fidel Castro's health makes a meeting between the two uncertain, Lula's spokesman said in Brasilia.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Liberated Colombian hostage eager to reunite with her son

Clara Rojas, one of the two women hostages released by Colombian cocaine funded FARC rebels says she is eager to be reunited with her young son. The three-year-old son, fathered by one of her rebel captors, was taken from her at eight months and is now in foster care in Colombia.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
US trade deficit in November widens to highest in 14 months

The United States trade deficit widened a sharp 9.3% in November to a larger-than-expected 63.1 billion US dollars, the highest in 14 months, mainly on soaring crude oil costs, reported the US Department of Commerce.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Nepal/NZ mourn loss of Mount Everest colossus conqueror

Nepal, the country of Mount Everest, has been remembering Sir Edmund Hillary, the joint first conqueror of the summit. Sir Edmund died in his native New Zealand, aged 88, after a heart attack.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Bird flu: US/Chile coordinate detection in Tierra del Fuego

A United States delegation from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Department of Agriculture) visited Punta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego to coordinate efforts with their Chilean counterparts in preventing the appearance of invasive pathologies, particularly avian influenza (H5N1 strain) or bird flu.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chavez lobbying for Colombia's FARC stirs new controversy

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has stirred up controversy by calling on United States and European governments to stop treating the cocaine funded Colombian rebel groups, which are holding hundreds of hostages, as terrorists.