Stories for July 27th 2007

Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Floods in England: two dead and short on drinking water

Two people died on Thursday and 140.000 household in Gloucestershire remain without drinking water raising health and sanitation fears following several days of extensive flooding in central and west England caused by the wettest June and July on record in the UK.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Global stock markets plunge on fears of credit crunch

United States Treasuries surged Thursday in a flight to safety as stocks plunged in the US and Europe on growing fears of a global credit crunch and weaker than expected economic data.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
US calls on Argentina to honor repudiated sovereign debt

The American Task Force Argentina (ATFA) applauded Wednesday the US Government for formally stating for the first time that the government of Argentina must honor the repudiated sovereign debts owed to international creditors, “including over 20 billion US dollars in default claims by international bondholders” and that these lingering issues “adversely impact Argentina's investment climate”.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
For the third time US rejects dialogue with the Cuban regime

The United States on Thursday quickly rejected the idea of dialogue with Cuba's communist government, floated by its interim leader Raul Castro during the celebration of the Cuban Revolution Day, July 26.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Doha round talks: much goodwill but no results so far

United States warned it is unsatisfied with draft plans for a global trade deal that will be debated by the World Trade Organization next September. A main problem is a lack of clarity in the three key areas of agriculture, non-farm manufacturing and services.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Falkland Islands: “Penguin News” weekly update

Headlines:
Conversion underway on new East West ferry;'FIG have spent £400k on my training, but won't employ me”; FIGAS without General manager; The Falklands today.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
US economy surprises with strong 3.4% growth in Q2

The United States economy grew faster than expected over the past three months, 3.4% on an annual basis, the best quarterly performance since early 2006. In the previous quarter the economy expanded 0.6%.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
HMS Edinburgh returns to Portsmouth after Falklands' patrol

Portsmouth-based warship HMS Edinburgh returned home on Friday after nine months on patrol around the Falkland Islands.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Skanska USA wins 1.9 billion contract to refurbish UN HQ

United Nations signed a contract with a United States based firm which will oversee the preconstruction stage of the seven-year, 1.9 billion US dollars refurbishment of the world body's New York Headquarters.
Friday, July 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
UN calls industrialized countries to help with climate change

Warning that failure to act on climate change will have grave consequences for all countries, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in San Francisco called for urgent international action to address the problem within the framework of the United Nations.