International
InternationalG7 Finance ministers press China for a stronger Yuan
Finance ministers from the G7 group of leading industrial countries meeting in Washington have called on China to allow its currency to rise in value more quickly. “Beijing must do more to let the Renminbi appreciate”, said G7 ministers.
UK and Spain in diplomatic exchange over Odyssey wrangle
Spain's detention of the treasure-hunting ship Odyssey Explorer on Tuesday has prompted a diplomatic exchange between London and Madrid over the status of waters around Gibraltar.
Scientists recommend 22.000 tons for North Sea cod quota
Stocks of North Sea cod have slightly increased but quotas should remain in place for 2008, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) said Friday. The independent scientific body monitors fish stocks in the North Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea issued its latest projections of cod and other fish species on Friday.
The US dollar faces and “extended period of decline”
The US dollar is in the midst of an extended period of decline which is forecasted to continue until the third quarter of next year according to the US Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI quarterly forecast.
Ozone hole smaller because of milder weather says UN
Although the ozone layer over the Antarctic this year is relatively small, this is due to mild temperatures in the region's stratosphere this winter and is not a sign of recovery, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Thursday.
PetroChina becomes world's second largest company
China's main oil coporation, government owned PetroChina Co. Ltd. shot past giant General Electric Co. to become the world's second-largest company. After its stock rose 13% on hopes of big new oil discoveries, the company's market value reached more than 430 billion US dollars, second only to Exxon Mobil Corp.'s 518 billion.
OPEC blames oil record prices on market speculation
As oil prices hit new records the cartel of oil exporting countries promised Tuesday to respond to any supply disruption but also expressed concern about the rising prices which it attributes largely to “market speculations”.
Odyssey ship arrested after gunpoint encounter at sea
'Odyssey Explorer', the flag ship of the treasure hunting sea archaeologists Odyssey Marine Exploration (OME), has been arrested along with its captain by the Spanish authorities following a dramatic gunpoint encounter at sea three miles south of Gibraltar.
Migrant workers' remittances reached 300 billion in 2006
Migrant workers sent home more than 300 billion US dollars to their families in developing countries in 2006, according to a study released Wednesday in Washington, D.C. by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
EU warns China about “deeply unequal” trade relationship
The European Union trade relationship with China is “deeply unequal” said EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson stressing that the EU sells more goods to Switzerland than to China.
