Stories for December 2008

Wednesday, December 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Era of cheap gas is coming to an end warns Russia's Putin

The era of cheap gas is coming to an end, Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has told ministers from the world's major gas-exporting countries. Putin said the cost of extracting gas was rising sharply therefore “the era of cheap energy resources, of cheap gas, is of course coming to an end”.
Wednesday, December 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Headlines: Carnival brings a touch of the Caribbean to the South Atlantic; High winds wreak havoc with roofs... and holiday plans; Running to Help the Heroes; A Christmas Message from His Excellency the Governor Mr Alan Huckle
Wednesday, December 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
South Georgia tourism ecosystem research project

Two researchers, who are part of a joint Research Project by Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) and the Sub-Antarctic Foundation for Ecosystems Research (SAFER) spent three weeks at South Georgia Island in November for the start of a tourism monitoring project for the South Georgia Government.
Wednesday, December 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Forget Mercosur, sign trade accord with EU says Brazil industry

A leading number of Brazilian businessmen belonging to the country's powerful National Confederation of Industry, CNI, said it was time to sign a bilateral agreement with the European Union, --which would leave out Mercosur--, according to press reports in O Estado de Sao Paulo.
Tuesday, December 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine exports suffer 6% slowdown in November

Argentine exports in November experienced their first decrease in six years falling 6% to 5.1 billion US dollars as a direct consequence of lower commodities prices and smaller volumes of soy shipped to China. This represented a significant 7.3% drop in the month's trade surplus, 952 million USD compared to a year ago.
Tuesday, December 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Argentines most optimistic global citizens on 2009

Following a year full of political events and tension, basically the several month-long conflict between the Argentine government and farmers, Argentines are among the most optimistic about 2009 according to a world public opinion poll from TNS Gallup.
Tuesday, December 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Champagne sales down for the first time in 20 years

Champagne sales during the first ten months of 2008 indicate a 4.9% drop following a record 338 million bottles sold in 2007, according to France's champagne wine board, CIVC. October was particularly significant with 23% less bottles leaving France's main cellars compared to a year ago.
Tuesday, December 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Caterpillar slashing white-collar pay and planning job cuts

Caterpillar Inc, the world's largest maker of heavy construction and mining equipment, said Monday it is cutting white-collar pay by up to 50% and offering buyouts to as many as 25.000 US employees as it looks to cut costs during what it characterized as “uncertain times.”
Tuesday, December 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean tourism expanded 6% in 2008 with 2.65m foreigners

Tourism activity in Chile during 2008 has expanded 6% compared to the previous year according to Oscar Santelices, Chile's head of the Tourist Office, Sernatur.
Tuesday, December 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Aerolineas subsidiary in Chile files for bankruptcy protection

Air Comet Chile, a unit of Spanish group Marsans, said on Monday it had filed for bankruptcy protection, less than one week after the Argentine Senate voted to expropriate Aerolineas Argentinas, also owned by Marsans.