Stories for 2008

Friday, October 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UN calls for continuation of cease fire in east Congo

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued on Friday a call for a continuation to the halt to fighting announced by rebel militia leader Laurent Nkunda, stressing the heavy humanitarian toll of the violence which has engulfed the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Friday, October 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina reacts angrily to S&P debt rating downgrade

Argentina Economy Ministry sources reacted angrily to a debt ratings downgrade by Standard & Poor's on Friday saying it was “another mistaken decision”. S&P downgraded Argentina's foreign-currency rating to “B-” from “B”.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chavez has his own Chinese built, launched satellite

The first Venezuelan telecommunications satellite was launched Wednesday from the western Chinese province of Sichuan. The 3.1 ton satellite, named after Latin American liberator Simon Bolivar, was built by China at a cost of 406 million dollars and puts Venezuela in the region's space club which includes Brazil and Argentina.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Heavy fine on BT for fixing MoD phone calls

BT has been forced to pay the UK Ministry of Defence £1.3m in compensation after some of its staff met call-answering targets by phoning each other. The Audit Commission found they fixed figures to help the company avoid fines for not answering calls quickly enough.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
IMF announces 100 billion emergency fund; Argentina out

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is creating an emergency fund for emerging market economies to help them weather the global credit crisis. The Group of 24 developing countries, which includes nations from Latin America, Asia and Africa, had requested such a development earlier this month.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Fed swap lines with Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and Singapore

The US Federal Reserve agreed on Wednesday to provide 30 billion US dollars each to the central banks of Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and Singapore, expanding its effort to unfreeze money markets to emerging nations for the first time.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Paraguay promises protection to Brazilian land-holders

Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo said in Washington his administration guarantees the security of all Brazilian residents in the country, but also emphasized they must respect the Paraguayan legal system.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Uruguay's ruling coalition dispute extends to the Senate

Uruguay's ruling coalition 2009 presidential candidate dispute has extended to the Senate where President Tabare Vazquez has been unable so far, to garner the sufficient votes to support the nomination of Central Bank members which is currently headless.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Overseas Territories talks positive says Falklands councilor

“POSITIVE and constructive” was how Falklands councillor Mike Summers described talks held at the Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) this week.
Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UN instructs Uruguay blue helmets to defend Congolese city

United Nations ordered a contingent of 600 Uruguayan blue helmets to take over the defence of the Congolese city of Goma --and its airport--, devastated by combats between the Congolese Army and rebel forces under the command of Laurent Nkunda.