International

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 07:16 UTC

  Figo pledges to distribute FIFA's reserves and a world cup with 40 teams

  

  Luis Figo has pledged to distribute “2.5 billion” among the member associations of FIFA if he is elected president in May. He also wants to expand the World Cup, and proposes a term limit of 12 years for the presidency.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 05:05 UTC

  UK inflation 0.3% in January on cheaper petrol and food prices

  

  The rate of UK Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 0.3% in January, its lowest level since records began. Cheaper petrol and lower food prices, helped by a supermarket price war, cut the rate from 0.5% in December, Office for National Statistics figures show.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 05:00 UTC

  Negative inflation in France adds to Euro-zone stagnation and deflation fears

  

  Inflation in France, the Euro zone's second-biggest economy, was negative in January for the first time in more than five years, the national statistics agency said on Thursday.Prices declined by 0.4% in January compared to the same month last year, INSEE said, noting that France has not seen negative inflation since October 2009.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 04:51 UTC

  Why oil prices must go up

  

  It may be difficult to look beyond the current pricing environment for oil, but the depletion of low-cost reserves and the increasing inability to find major new discoveries ensures a future of expensive oil.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 04:37 UTC

  IAATO tests protocols in Antarctic Search and Rescue exercise with RCCNZ

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and two member operators, Oceanwide Expeditions and Heritage Expeditions, took part in a live Search and Rescue (SAR) Exercise in collaboration with Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) on Feb. 12.

• Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:44 UTC

  HSBC Swiss office searched by Geneva prosectuor; second probe in a week

  

  Geneva's public prosecutor searched HSBC's lakeside Swiss office on Wednesday after opening a criminal inquiry into allegations of aggravated money laundering, the second probe to hit the bank this week.

• Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:30 UTC

  Ascension and South Sandwich islands proposed for marine protected areas

  

  Ahead of the May 7 British general election, a coalition of conservationists and high-profile supporters has called upon the UK government to create three marine reserves that together would more than double the world’s protected waters, reports Inhabitat.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2015 - 23:06 UTC

  OAS Secretary General hopeful meets with Insulza and Permanent Council chair Badrising

  

  The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met on Wednesday with the only current candidate to succeed him in office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Luis Almagro, at the headquarters of the Organization in Washington, DC.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2015 - 22:07 UTC

  Scotland declares digital independence: from now on: “gov.scot”

  

  On Tuesday, the Scottish Government shifted its internet presence from 'scotland.gov.uk' to 'gov.scot', redirecting the old domain to its new home. The move has been heralded for years by the Scottish National Party (SNP).

• Wednesday, February 18th 2015 - 19:28 UTC

  Canada identifies origin of mad cow disease case; Korea bans Canadian beef

  

  The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says a beef breeding cow found with mad cow disease on an Alberta farm was born in the province at a different farm. Association spokesman John Masswohl says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency identified the birth farm. It is the first case reported since 2011. South Korea announced it was banning Canadian beef.