Stories for December 2008

Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina-Chile naval exercises in Beagle channel

Argentine and Chilean naval forces will hold this week the Viekaren IX joint exercises in the Beagle channel zone in Tierra del Fuego, extreme south of South America, according to a release from the Chilean navy.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Host of Man vs. Wild series injured in Antarctic expedition

Adventurer and host of the popular Man vs Wild series Bear Grylls has injured his shoulder during an Antarctic expedition. According to CNN the 34-year-old former SAS soldier was being flown back to the UK to receive medical attention.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
World Bank predicts oil at 75 USD and high food prices

The recent sharp declines in oil and food prices mark the end of what has been the most historic commodity price boom of the past century, says the World Bank in its report “Commodities at the crossroads”.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Global trade expected to contract for the first time since 1982

The World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2009 predicts that global GDP growth will slip from 2.5% in 2008 to 0.9% in 2009 and world trade will contract by 2.1% next year, something not seen since 1982. Developing country growth is expected to decline from a resilient 7.9% in 2007 to 4.5% in 2009 with growth in rich countries next year most likely negative.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
MPs committee to investigate Green's police incident

An influential committee of British MPs is to investigate the controversial arrest of Tory MP Damian Green, including the search of his office in Parliament, and politicians' involvement in the incident was announced on Tuesday.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil wants WTO agreement on July consensus

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim warned on Tuesday that global trade talks would fail if members of the World Trade Organization tried to revise positions they had reached last July.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Pirate scare: German cruise line flies pax over Gulf of Aden

A German cruise liner announced Tuesday it plans to fly its passengers over the Gulf of Aden, instead of sailing them through, out of fear of pirate attacks in the region.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chinese steelmakers demand 82% cut in iron ore prices

China the world's largest steel producer is seeking iron ore suppliers cut prices to meet the falling international price of steel which has dropped to 1994 levels, according to an official with China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), reports China's official news agency Xinhua.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China's annual fish farm production: 48.9 million tons

China's fisheries industry expects to end the year with stable growth and fish farm production increasing 3% over the last twelve months, according to an official report released on Tuesday in Beijing from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazilian surprise: 3Q annual expansion reaches 6.8%

Brazil expanded at an annual 6.8% in the third-quarter, but the country was still hit hard by the global financial crisis and that has left investors wondering if Latinamerica's largest economy will avoid a further slide in growth.