Stories for 2008

Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Colombia: no more international humanitarian missions

Colombia will allow no more international missions seeking the release of hostages held by leftist cocaine funded rebels after a Venezuela-led plan dissolved in a flurry of accusations last week, the government announced Monday in Bogota. However FARC said the handover operation is still on and Argentina expressed “dismay” at the Colombian government's attitude.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Lula da Silva woos and boosts Brazilian armed forces

Brazil announced this week the creation of an ambitious defense structure, to be deployed in the event of foreign aggression, which includes ten ministries under the command of the Defence ministry, reports O Estado de Sao Paulo.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Growing consensus that the “feared US recession” is here

The feared recession in the US economy has already arrived, according to a report from Merrill Lynch. It said that Friday's employment report, which sent shares tumbling worldwide, confirmed that the US is in the first month of a recession.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Two weekly flights Santiago-Pto Natales Torres del Paine park

Air Comet a Chilean subsidiary of the Spanish Group Marsans is expanding domestic flights in the country and announced two weekly flights to Puerto Natales, in the extreme south of Chilean Patagonia.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Central bankers' dilemma: liquidity or inflation risks

European Central Bank (ECB) chief Jean-Claude Trichet is “very satisfied” with central banks' coordinated action to help banks hit by the credit crunch. The US Federal Reserve, the ECB and central banks from the UK, Canada and Switzerland injected billions to calm money markets in December.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Australia to begin sea-air surveillance of Japanese whalers

Australia will begin sea- and air-based surveillance of Japan's whaling fleet this week foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith announced this week. Australia's center-left Labor government anticipated it would step up action to block Japan from its annual whale hunt, including sending a surveillance plane and a customs ship to gather evidence for a possible international legal challenge.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazilian auto production and exports new records

Brazilian auto production hit 2.97 million units in 2007, up 13.9% from 2006 while domestic sales totaled 2.2 million units, which was also a record, 22.9% higher than in 2006 according to the Brazilian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, or Anfavea.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Believe it or not: Brits richer than US citizens in 2008

United Kingdom living standards are set to overtake those in the United States this year for the first time since the 19th century, research has claimed. The UK's GDP is expected to rise to £23,500 per person during 2008, £250 more than the £23,250 GDP per head predicted for Americans, according to Oxford Economics.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Australian announces first permanent air link to Antarctica

Australia's civil aviation regulators announced on Tuesday they have given final approval for the country's first permanent air link to Antarctica, although it will be for scientists rather than tourists.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
QE2 final world cruise before becoming Dubai floating hotel

One of the world's most famous cruise ships, the Queen Elizabeth 2 set sail Sunday on its final global voyage before being turned into a floating hotel, British media reported. The vessel left with a fireworks send-off from the port city of Southampton for her last winter trip, the domestic Press Association news agency said.