Stories for February 1st 2008

Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

Headlines: An avian checkup; Smoking ban moves closer; Mine clearance: Britain explores its options; 'Encouraging' outlook for illex season.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Obama, Clinton smooth over spats in Hollywood debate

The historic choice for the Democratic presidential nominee came into clear focus at the final Democratic debate Thursday between the two candidates left standing - Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - who smoothed over their recent spats and turned most of their attacks on Republicans.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Alcoa and China up stakes in mining premier league

China has teamed up with US aluminum giant Alcoa to buy a 12% stake in Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto for 14 billion US dollars. The state-owned Aluminum Corp of China (Chinalco) said the purchase was the largest Chinese investment overseas.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Climate tests China's power; concern over food supplies

With forecasts of more snow and ice, chaos in the transport and energy systems that has left millions stranded or without electricity and water, Chinese authorities are desperately trying to convince people the situation is under control.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
OPEC leaves output unchanged: market remains well supplied

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, left its oil production ceiling unchanged on Friday ignoring United States demands for an increase. The cartel insisted that the market remained well supplied and seemed to focus on supporting prices which have fallen 10% since the beginning of the year.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Australia/Japan summit to address whaling dispute

Australia's Foreign Affairs minister Stephen Smith warned Friday of tougher action to stop Japan whaling, despite calls for calm from both sides over the increasingly emotive dispute.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil “optimistic” about its 5% growth estimate for 2008

Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega said that “for the moment” there's no reason to change the country's growth estimate of 5% for 2008, in spite of global recession fears, which he believes will impact most on developed countries.
Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Paraguay, candidate for Mercosur lady presidents' club

Paraguay's decades ruling party Partido Colorado formally registered this week a woman and former Education Minister as its candidate for the coming presidential election of April 20. She's the first woman in the country's history to run for president.