International

• Friday, July 20th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  China hikes rates to curb inflation and cool economy

  

  The People's Bank of China (PBC) ordered Friday an increase of 0.27% of a point in commercial banks' benchmark one-year deposit and lending rates to keep inflation in check. The increases will take effect on 21 July and is the fifth since April 2006.

• Friday, July 20th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Oil demand, and prices, forecasted to keep increasing

  

  Global demand for oil will increase significantly next year, with greater pressure on prices, said the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its monthly report.

• Friday, July 20th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Poor earnings and housing slump push US markets down

  United States stocks fell sharply on Friday following disappointing earnings from Caterpillar and Google. Worries over the impact of the housing slump and losses from risky mortgages also weighed on stocks.

• Thursday, July 19th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  UN agencies urge vigilance of food safety systems

  Pointing to weaknesses in food safety systems around the world, two United Nations agencies urged all countries to be vigilant when dealing with traders and producers that affect the supply line.

• Wednesday, July 18th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  US/Brazil call for a Yuan that reflects China's vigorous growth

  The Yuan needs to “adapt” to the vigor and strength of the Chinese economy, reflecting the spectacular growth of the country, said United States Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in the latest edition of Veja, Brazil's leading magazine.

• Monday, July 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Human variant of BSE kills teenage patient in Portugal

  Portuguese health authorities confirmed this week the first fatal case of Creutzfeld-Jacob disease the human variant of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, BSE, or better know as mad cow.

• Monday, July 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  China stamps temporary ban on US meat imports

  China has suspended the import of tainted meat products from seven United States companies, including Tyson Foods Inc, the world's largest meat processor reports the Monday edition of China Daily.

• Friday, July 13th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Scientists surprised by giant squid found on Tasmania

  

  Australian zoologists say it remains a mystery how a 200-kilogram giant squid came to be washed up on Tasmania's west coast. The squid was found by a member of the public on a beach near Strahan early this week.

• Wednesday, July 11th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  US dollar in new record low against the Euro and Sterling

  

  The dollar fell on Tuesday to a record low against the Euro and a 26-year low against the British pound as investors feared that the deteriorating U.S. sub-prime mortgage market could eventually slow the economy.

• Wednesday, July 11th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Another good year is forecasted for global tourism

  

  The year 2007 has started on a higher than expected note for global tourism. From January through April, international tourist arrivals worldwide rose by over 6% to 252 million, representing an additional 15 million arrivals as against the same period in 2006, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.