International

Sunday, November 16th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brown claims G20 backed his blueprint for combating crisis

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown claimed Saturday that world leaders had backed his blueprint for combating the global slowdown. He said they had agreed to “fiscal measures” to stimulate the economy - likely to mean increased government spending and cuts in taxes.
Sunday, November 16th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
G20 agrees financial reform agenda and free trade timetable

Global leaders at the G20 financial summit in Washington have pledged to work together to restore global growth. They said they were determined to work together to achieve “needed reforms” in the world's financial systems.
Sunday, November 16th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Canada mad cow case blamed on feed manufacturer

The Canada Food Inspection Agency says a British Columbia feed manufacturer is the most likely source of the country's 13th case of mad cow disease.
Sunday, November 16th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Iran pushing for oil cut of 1.5 million bpd in Cairo meeting

Iran's OPEC governor, Mohammad Ali Khatibi, is calling on the oil cartel to cut production by a further 1 to 1.5 million barrels per day when it meets in Cairo later this month.
Saturday, November 15th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Actress Charlize Theron named UN Messenger of Peace

The Academy Award-winning actress and activist Charlize Theron has been designated by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, with a special focus on ending violence against women.
Saturday, November 15th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
G20 summit vow to restore global economic growth

Leaders of the world's 20 largest economies have agreed to work together to restore economic growth and reform the world's financial system.
Friday, November 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Japan pledges 100 billion USD to boost IMF crisis fund

Japan will propose at the upcoming Group of 20 Washington summit the doubling of the current 340 billion dollars provided to the International Monetary Fund to help strengthen its capacity to address financial crises and is willing to pledge 100 billion US dollars of its reserves, according to government sources in Tokyo.
Friday, November 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Bush defends 60 years of free-market system success

US President George W Bush has admitted the financial system needs reforming, but insists the credit crunch was not a failure of the free-market system. Speaking Thursday in New York, Mr Bush said that while financial markets did need some new regulation and more transparency, free trade should not be restricted.
Friday, November 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
High unemployment and modest 2010 upturn, SAYS OECD

Economic activity is expected to fall by 0.9% in the United States in 2009, by 0.5% in the Euro area and by 0.1% in Japan as OECD countries enter a protracted slowdown, according to latest projections.
Friday, November 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Euro zone officially in recession; first time since 1999

The Euro-zone has officially slipped into recession after EU figures showed that the economy shrank by 0.2% in the third quarter. This follows a 0.2% contraction in the 15-nation area in the previous quarter from April to June. Two quarters of negative growth define a technical recession.