Stories for January 14th 2008

Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Freed Colombian hostages condemn kidnaps as “torture”

The two Colombian hostages liberated by the cocaine funded FARC, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo described the guerrilla methods as “brutal” and condemned kidnapping as a crime against humanity.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Bank of America rescues US biggest mortgage lender

One of the leading banks in United States, Bank of America is to take over the country's biggest mortgage lender Countrywide Financial, in a 4 billion US dollars deal.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Magallanes oil/gas exploration contracts ready for next March

Chile's Ministry of Mines expects to sign next March oil operating contracts with the corporations that have won licences to explore and exploit hydrocarbons in the extreme south of the country reports La Prensa Austral from Punta Arenas.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Released Colombian hostage meets baby son after three years

Released Colombian hostage Clara Rojas had an emotional reunion Sunday in Bogota with her son Emmanuel, three years after he was taken from her while she was in captivity in Colombia's jungle, according to government sources.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
WTO members narrow differences in agriculture talks

The World Trade Organization's chief agriculture negotiator said that members have narrowed their differences and made “a lot of progress” in recent talks but more still needs to be done before an agreement is reached.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
World rice harvest and trading heading for a record year

World rice production is projected at a record 421.2 million tons (milled basis) in 2007/08, up less than 1% from a year ago, while global rice trading is forecasted to reach 29.6 million tons, up 3%, according to the latest reports from the US Department of Agriculture.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil denies yellow fever epidemic, but suggests vaccination

Brazil faces no risk of a yellow fever epidemic, despite an outbreak that killed two people last week in the capital, Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao said in Brasilia.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Former Paraguayan general confirmed as presidential candidate

The former commander of the Paraguayan Army General Lino Cesar Oviedo who was freed from jail last September was confirmed Sunday as presidential candidate for the opposition National Union of Ethical Citizens, Unace, in the coming April general election.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Renegade spy who devoted life to expose CIA dies in Cuba

Philip Agee, the former CIA operative who broke with the agency and devoted his life to exposing its role in political subversion, assassination, torture and support for military dictatorships, died January 7 in Cuba at the age of 72. Cuban sources said that he died of peritonitis after ulcer surgery.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Goldman Sachs predicts US recession and China slowdown

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., one of the world's leading investment banking and investment management firms lowered its forecast for China's 2008 GDP growth to 10% from 10.3%, due to an expected 2008 recession in the U.S.