The global economy is expected to slow to a modest 3.3% growth in 2008, but things could worsen if United States slips into recession, the World Bank said this week in a report on Global Economic Prospects 2008.
Tata Motors Ltd., India's largest truckmaker, unveiled the country's cheapest car, pricing it at 100,000 rupees ($2,500) as it aims to convince the nation's 45 million motorcycle riders to trade up to four wheels.
Tony Blair is to take a job with a major Wall Street bank which is likely to earn him around £500,000 a year. The former Prime Minister will work part-time providing political and strategic advice to JP Morgan in the first of a number of similar positions in the private sector.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has arrived in Antarctica on the historic first passenger flight linking the white continent with Australia.
Dakar Rally organizers are considering a race through central Europe this spring to replace the event that was cancelled due to security concerns, the head of the Czech KM Racing Team said on Monday to French sources.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.