Stories for 2008

Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK reveals design of Identity cards for foreign nationals

The United Kingdom Border Agency revealed on Thursday the design of the first identity cards to be issued to foreign nationals in the UK.
Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
First case mother and son mad cow deaths confirmed in Spain

The mother of a Spanish man who died from mad cow disease also succumbed to the illness, announced on Thursday the Spanish Ministry of Health.
Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil unemployment at its lowest level since 2001: 7.6%

Brazilian unemployment in August fell to its lowest level since 2001 thanks in part to the nation's solid economic growth. The country's official statistics institute IBGE said the rate dropped to 7.6% from 8.1% in July and 1.9 percentage points from August 2007.
Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Vale Doce and Norsk Hydro expand Brazil's alumina pole

Norwegian aluminum group Norsk Hydro announced on Thursday that it will join with the Brazilian metals and mining company Vale Doce to build a new alumina refinery in northern Brazil, an investment totaling 2.6 billion US dollars.
Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EU bans Chinese baby food and could include other foods

The European Union has banned imports of baby food that contains Chinese milk and is considering restrictions on other Chinese food products with powdered milk, as a tainted milk scandal in China takes on international proportions.
Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
“Laissez-faire is finished” says EC chair Pte Sarkozy

The economic turmoil provoked by crises in the United States subprime and finance markets has put an end to the free market economy, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday.
Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Unasur commission to investigate killings of Bolivian peasants

Presidents and representatives from the Union of South American Nations, Unasur agreed on the creation of a committee to investigate recent peasant massacres in the Bolivian province of Pando.
Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
“Celtic tiger” becomes first Euro economy in recession

Ireland, better known as the “Celtic tiger” became the first Euro zone economy to slide into a recession as homebuilding and consumer spending continued to slump. GDP contracted 0.5% in the second quarter from the previous quarter which had also shrank 0.3%, according to the Central Statistics Office said Thursday in Dublin.
Thursday, September 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Number of cell phone subscribers will reach 4 billion in 2008

The number of mobile cellular subscribers worldwide will reach the 4 billion mark by the end of 2008, the head of the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) announced Thursday.
Wednesday, September 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Punta Arenas cruise and port services VAT controversy

Chile's Free Competition tribunal ruled that legislation allowing the reimbursement of VAT (value added tax) only to foreign cruise companies was discriminatory for the domestic cruise industry.