Following on a robust 2007, the United Nations Conference On Trade and Development says there is a clear danger of the world economy coming to a near standstill in 2008. The report says this will hit many poor nations hard, slow world trade and put an end to the boom in commodity prices.
Police have broken an illegal whale poaching racket, confiscating more than 50 tons of Minke meat in the largest seizure of its kind in South Korea, an official in Seoul said Saturday.
Japanese whalers have warned Greenpeace activists pursuing their fleet in the Southern Ocean against illegal and dangerous interference to the hunt. Greenpeace protest ship Esperanza has located the fleet of six ships conducting so-called scientific whaling and is pursuing the main vessel Nisshin Maru.
The International Monetary Fund said this week it had lowered its 2007 global growth estimate by one-half percentage point after recent data showed economies of China and India were smaller than previously thought.
China will introduce partial price freezes on basic commodities such as gas and oil and crack down on profiteering, hoarding and other activities fuelling inflation, the government announced on Wednesday. Government officials are concerned about prices next month when the Lunar New Year celebrations.
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.