Stories for January 2009

Tuesday, January 27th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Tourism industry expected to contract up to 2% this year

International tourist arrivals in 2008 increased 2% over the previous year but with the advance of the global crisis the rate of growth in the second half came to a stand still and turned negative, a tendency which is expected to continue in 2009, --possibly between 0 and minus 2%--, according to the latest report form the World Tourism Organizations.
Tuesday, January 27th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
HMS Manchester leaves UK on South Atlantic deployment

The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councilor Mavis Smitheman, bid farewell to the sailors of HMS Manchester on Monday as the ship departed on a seven-month deployment to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Lord Mayor sailed from Portsmouth on board HMS Manchester and has been given a full demonstration of the ship's capabilities prior to departing later today.
Tuesday, January 27th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Morales “encouraged” with US attitude to Sunday's referendum

Bolivian president Evo Morales described as “encouraging” the congratulation message from President Barack Obama administration on Sunday's referendum for the approval of a new constitution, according to reports in the Cuban television.
Tuesday, January 27th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Job losses in Latam expected to reach 2.4 million says ILO

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says as many as 2.4 million Latin Americans could lose their jobs this year due to the global economic crisis.
Tuesday, January 27th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil to compensate cheap energy with investments

Brazil has offered investments in Paraguay in exchange for not claiming a fair price and free availability of the surplus energy produced at South America's largest hydroelectric dam Itaipú shared by the neighbouring countries.
Tuesday, January 27th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Record capital flight from Argentina last year: 23 billion USD

Money leaving Argentina trebled in 2008 compared to the previous year and was 23% higher to the great capital flight of the second half of 2001 and first half of 2002 which totalled 18.7 billion US dollars and triggered the collapse of the banking system and melting of the economy, according to a report in La Nacion.
Tuesday, January 27th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Obama reaches out to the Muslim world in Arabic network

President Barack Obama chose an Arabic satellite TV network for his first formal television interview on Monday as president, part of his drive to repair relations with the Muslim world.
Monday, January 26th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazilian-made oil semi-sub platform begins production

Brazil's government managed oil and corporation Petrobras announced that the first semi-submersible platform built entirely in Brazil, went on stream Sunday, beginning the production of well MLS-99, in the Marlim Sul field, in the Campos Basin.
Monday, January 26th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK recession “predictor” warns of 3 m unemployment

The economist whose recession warnings and calls for interest rate cuts were snubbed by Bank of England colleagues warned in an interview he feared UK unemployment could hit three million in a year's time.
Monday, January 26th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Exit polls show Bolivians approved new constitution

Bolivian voters approved a new constitution on Sunday to give the indigenous majority more power, let President Evo Morales (first elected indigenous president) run for re-election and give him a tighter control over the economy.