Stories for October 8th 2008

Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN sponsored accord to protect manatees, whales and dolphins

Dolphins, small whales and manatees living in the waters off West Africa or islands in the mid-Atlantic Ocean will now receive greater protection after 15 countries signed an agreement under a United Nations-backed treaty that aims to conserve wildlife and habitats.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Current ozone hole over Antarctica close to 2006 record

The 2008 ozone hole over Antarctica is larger both in size and ozone loss than 2007 but is not as large as 2006, according to the European Space Agency.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Lack of credit is forcing US car dealerships to close

The financial crisis is hurting automotive dealers across United States and could contribute to an estimated 700 dealerships closing this year, the US National Automobile Dealers Association Chairwoman Annette Sykora said on Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Latam markets plunge and growth forecasts downgraded

Latinamerican markets finished sharply lower on Tuesday under pressure from the slide on Wall Street, falling commodity prices and uncertainty about the future. Growth forecasts have also been downgraded.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Peasant death forces Paraguay to ban foreign land holders

The killing of a landless peasant in Paraguay during a police eviction process in a farm belonging to a Brazilian national, decided the government on Tuesday to suspend all sales of land to foreigners.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Great Britain announces bank rescue plan

The British government has announced plans to partially nationalise the country's major banks, in a package using up to £50bn ($87.5bn) of taxpayers' money.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Google 24 hour tool tracks endangered ocean habitats

Conservationists working with Google Inc. have unveiled a tool that lets people view protected marine areas with the click of a mouse, a bid to harness the Internet's top search engine to raise awareness of endangered ocean habitats.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Oil below 90 USD prompts OPEC emergency meeting

OPEC is consulting on whether to hold an emergency meeting on November 18 to discuss the impact of the global financial crisis on the oil market, Libya's top oil official said on Wednesday.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN plans to protect and boost poor rural areas income

Increasing nature-based enterprises could simultaneously enhance incomes for the world's rural poor and increase their resilience to economic, social and environmental threats, according to a new United Nations-backed report launched Wednesday.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US dollar soars in Chile and closes trading at 612 pesos

With no end in sight for the global financial and confidence crisis, plus the price of commodities falling, the US dollar is breaking new records in Chile having closed trading on Wednesday at 612 Chilean pesos.