Stories for December 29th 2008

Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Foreign tourists' arrivals in Spain fall 11.6% in Nov.

Arrivals of foreign tourists to Spain, the world's second biggest tourist destination, plummeted in November as top customers Britons and Germans stayed at home during the global economic slowdown.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
EU Court rules airlines must compensate for technical problems

Airlines must pay compensation to passengers whose flights are cancelled because of technical problems with the plane, European judges ruled this week.

The only exception, said the European Court of Justice, is if the technical problems are caused by “extraordinary” events outside the normal activities of the airline - such as terrorism or sabotage or a hidden manufacturing fault which suddenly comes to light.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Coal mining venture threatens Chilean Patagonia Island

A coal mining venture being considered for Chile's Region X Isla Guafo, off the southwest coast of Chiloé, is raising alarm bells among area scientists, indigenous groups and local fishermen who fear the endeavour could cause irreparable harm to the uninhabited island's diverse and abundant wildlife.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Warning of fake Colgate toothpaste in UK main chain stores

Thousands of tubes of fake Colgate toothpaste have been recalled by Britain's main chain stores Sainsbury's and Boots. Both stores have contacted customers directly and put up notices in shops concerning the counterfeit product sold between 28 November and 5 December.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Damien Hirst Mexico vacation with SAS bodyguards

Damien Hirst, the British artist with a personal fortune estimated in excess of 300 million US dollars has hired four personal bodyguards who are all former members of the SAS, British special forces.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Copper keeps sliding, reaches a four year low at 1.27 USD lb

The price of copper, Chile's biggest export, may not rebound past 2 US dollars per pound after the international credit crisis hammered speculators, according to Santiago Gonzalez, Chile's Mining minister. Copper reached last week a four year low.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Origin of Species controversy on Darwin's bicentennial

As the scientific world prepares to mark Charles Darwin's bicentenary, the author of On the Origin of Species is facing accusations of plagiarism and unjustly claiming credit as the father of evolutionary theory.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Cuba: 2008 worst year since collapse of the Soviet Union

Cuba says it has suffered one of the most difficult financial years since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Economy minister Jose Luis Rodriguez said the Cuban economy had grown by 4.3% in the past year, falling short of the 8% forecast by the government.

President Raul Castro called for austerity measures including cutbacks in official travel and bonuses.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Fake cases tarnish Chile's dictatorship missing victims list

Several cases of people listed as missing victims of Chile's dictatorship which have either been located or died under unrelated circumstances has shocked the country's public opinion and caused political turmoil.
Monday, December 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Mercosur calls for end of violence and peace talks in Gaza

Mercosur expressed “concern and repudiation” towards the spiral of violence in the Gaza Strip, and also regrets the tragic results of the Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory.