Stories for 2008

Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Northern Rock PLC quagmire brings back nationalization oldie

Struggling bank Northern Rock PLC will be nationalized after the British government rejected two private takeover bids, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said Sunday. Darling told a news conference that the ailing mortgage lender would be placed under temporary public ownership because both private proposals had failed to meet the government's criteria for protecting taxpayers.
Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Former bishop leads in tight Paraguayan presidential bid

A former bishop is leading in what promises to be a very tight presidential election next April in Paraguay. The latest polls published this Sunday in the capital Asunción media shows ex bishop Fernando Lugo with 31.2% of vote intention followed by a former Army general Lino Oviedo with 25.3% and the outgoing administration candidate and ex Education minister Blanca Olevar with 24.3%
Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
North Falkland 3D seismic data, an invitation for oil rig

Prospects identified from 850 square kilometers of 3D seismic in the North Falkland basin (South Atlantic) could contain 1.9 billion barrels of un-risked recoverable oil, estimated directors of Rockhopper Exploration PLC.
Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Undercover video forces massive recall of beef in California

The United States Department of Agriculture on Sunday ordered the recall of approximately 64.000 tons of beef from a Southern California slaughterhouse that is the subject of an animal-abuse investigation.
Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
First fatal victim of yellow fever in urban Paraguay

A 17 year old allegedly is the first fatal victim of a yellow fever outbreak in Paraguay, a disease which reappeared after 34 years, according to the country's sanitary authorities. However controversy has emerged following a press report saying that the death toll caused by the mosquito transmitted disease is seven.
Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Hammerhead shark joins the red list of globally endangered

Populations of tiger, bull, dusky and other sea sharks have plummeted by more than 95% since the 1970s, according to an expert from the World Conservation Union. But ongoing efforts to identify shark “hotspots” across the oceans could help improve their chances of survival in future.
Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Subprime blues: Qatar sovereign fund buys into Credit Suisse

The Qatar Investment Authority purchases shares from Credit Suisse and is planning to invest up to 15 billion US dollars in European and US banks in the next twelve months, announced Monday Qatar Prime Minister according to Bloomberg News.
Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Far East steelmakers agree to pay 65% more for iron ore

Japanese and South Korean steel mills have agreed to pay Brazilian miner Vale do Rio Doce 65% more for iron ore this year. Japan's Nippon Steel and South Korea's Posco said they would pay Vale 78.90 US dollars a ton from April.
Sunday, February 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Petrobras orders high seas oil platform costing 1.2 billion

Brazil's government managed oil corporation Petrobras signed on Friday a contract with Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) to build a high seas oil rig to operate at a water depth of 1.246 and which will cost in the range of 1.2 billion US dollars and be delivered in three years time.
Sunday, February 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Soy displaces cattle as main farm activity in Argentina

Soy beans has become the main commodity of Argentina's rich farmland displacing other traditional industries such as cattle breeding and dairy farming, according to studies and statistics from the country's main breeders organization the Rural Society.