Stories for January 2008

Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Australia to begin sea-air surveillance of Japanese whalers

Australia will begin sea- and air-based surveillance of Japan's whaling fleet this week foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith announced this week. Australia's center-left Labor government anticipated it would step up action to block Japan from its annual whale hunt, including sending a surveillance plane and a customs ship to gather evidence for a possible international legal challenge.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazilian auto production and exports new records

Brazilian auto production hit 2.97 million units in 2007, up 13.9% from 2006 while domestic sales totaled 2.2 million units, which was also a record, 22.9% higher than in 2006 according to the Brazilian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, or Anfavea.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Believe it or not: Brits richer than US citizens in 2008

United Kingdom living standards are set to overtake those in the United States this year for the first time since the 19th century, research has claimed. The UK's GDP is expected to rise to £23,500 per person during 2008, £250 more than the £23,250 GDP per head predicted for Americans, according to Oxford Economics.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Australian announces first permanent air link to Antarctica

Australia's civil aviation regulators announced on Tuesday they have given final approval for the country's first permanent air link to Antarctica, although it will be for scientists rather than tourists.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
QE2 final world cruise before becoming Dubai floating hotel

One of the world's most famous cruise ships, the Queen Elizabeth 2 set sail Sunday on its final global voyage before being turned into a floating hotel, British media reported. The vessel left with a fireworks send-off from the port city of Southampton for her last winter trip, the domestic Press Association news agency said.
Monday, January 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
New gas field could increase Bolivia's total production 5%

A new gas field has been found in east Bolivia, which will have a production capacity of 2.4 million-cubic-meter a day by October, Bolivian President Evo Morales announced. The new field, called Tacobo and operated by Argentine Pluspetrol, is located in San Isidro, the Bolivian eastern province of Santa Cruz rich in oil and natural gas reserves.
Monday, January 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Bluefin tuna sells for 202 US dollars a kilo in Tokyo market

A Hong Kong sushi restaurant owner paid a record 55.700 US dollars for a massive blue-fin tuna in the first auction of the year at the world's largest fish market in Tokyo, an official and media reports said.
Monday, January 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Stone blames Bush for failed release of Colombian hostages

Hollywood director Oliver Stone who was to film the liberation of hostages held by the Colombian cocaine funded guerrilla FARC at the end of December, accused the United States for the failure of the mission and defends the role played by Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez in the frustrated operation.
Monday, January 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UK Minister meets opposition from Falklands Councillors on next-of-kin issue

BRITISH Overseas Territories Minister Meg Munn met with opposition from Falkland Islands councillors during her recent visit to the islands when she suggested Argentine next-of-kin might be allowed to visit the Falklands via a charter flight.
Monday, January 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina bans fuel exports and calls for pump price rollback

Argentina halted fuel exports and called for a pump price rollback on Monday amid reports of fuel shortages, government news agency Telam reported, citing unidentified government sources.