Stories for April 13th 2008

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

G7 ministers target financial sector and credit rating agencies

The G7 group of most industrialized nations, meeting in Washington, approved a plan Saturday aimed at easing the continuing crisis in the global credit markets.

Including calls for more oversight of financial firms and greater financial transparency, G7 members have committed themselves to its implementation

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

Bankers acknowledge “weakness in business practices”

The credit crisis is still sending shockwaves around the world and leading banks have now accepted much of the blame for the current turbulence in the financial markets. At a meeting of the Institute of International Finance in Frankfurt, senior bankers acknowledged that “weaknesses in business practices”, including bankers' pay and the management of risk, may have contributed to the crisis, reports the BBC.

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

Haiti's Congress sacks Prime Minister over food riots

Haiti Parliament voted on Saturday to oust Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis following widespread anger over rising food prices that led to days of deadly protests and looting.

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

Magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Sub Antarctic seabed

An earthquake magnitude 7.1 struck Saturday in the vicinity of Macquarie Island, which lies about halfway between Australia and Antarctica and 2.000 kilometers south from the New Zealand capital Wellington, said the US Geological Survey.

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

Indian president begins strategic tour of Latam countries

India's President Pratibha Patil left on Saturday for a Latinamerican tour of Brazil, Mexico and Chile with the purpose of strengthening trade, investment and political ties with the region.

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

Disappeared glacial lake in southern Chile gradually recovering

Lake Cachet 2 next to a glacier in the south of Chile, which last week swelled and then suddenly emptied is gradually recovering according to Chilean authorities from the Natural Waters System Office, DGA.

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

Chavez calls FARC to release civilians and stop kidnapping

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez confirmed he was working for the release of a third group of hostages held by the Colombian guerrilla group FARC, including Ingrid Betancourt and urged the rebels to free all civilian hostages.

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

World Bank grant for Haiti to prop social safety net programs

The World Bank announced Sunday a 10 million US dollar grant for Haiti to help the Government respond to the increasing, unaffordable prices of food for poor families.

In Haiti, the prices of rice, corn, beans, cooking oil and other foodstuffs have increased significantly in the last few months.

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

Zoellick warns food prices will push millions to poverty

The rapid rise in food prices could push 100m people in poor countries deeper into poverty, the head of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, has said.

His warning follows that from the leader of the International Monetary Fund, who said hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of starvation.

Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

Blind Dave completes Falklands to London 7 continent marathon

A blind man who set himself a worldwide challenge to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days finished his final run at the Flora London Marathon. Dave Heeley, 50, known as Blind Dave joined the London Marathon after spending a week running in the Falkland Islands, Brazil, Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai and Tunisia.