International

Saturday, February 23rd 2013 - 06:19 UTC
Moody’s cuts UK credit rating to Aa1 from AAA, first time since 1978

Moody's Investors Service on Friday cut the United Kingdom's credit rating to Aa1 from AAA for the first time since 1978, citing weakness in the nation's medium-term growth outlook that it now expects to extend for a number of years.
Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 16:03 UTC
Controversy over Spain’s recovery ‘round the corner’ and ‘the next Germany’ forecast

US multinational financial service corporation Morgan Stanley has declared that Spain has already got over the worst of the economic crisis and augurs that it “will become the next Germany” in the European Union. This however is challenged by the Financial Times, Goldman Sachs, Citibank and the IMF.
Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 15:43 UTC
Self determination and world examples dominated political debate hosted by Falklands

The 43rd British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), held in the Falkland Islands on the 12th and 13th February 2013, was described as both fascinating and provoking by delegates.
Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 05:08 UTC
WHO confirms death from coronavirus; 13 cases of human infection and 7 deaths

Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health has informed the World Health Organization of another confirmed case of infection with the novel coronavirus (NCoV). The patient was hospitalized on 29 January 2013 and died on 10 February 2013. The case was laboratory-confirmed on 18 February 2013. Further investigation into this case is ongoing.
Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 04:16 UTC
Colombia signs free trade agreement with South Korea eliminating 96% of tariffs

Colombia on Thursday signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea in Seoul. The FTA includes a wide range of elements to boost bilateral trade and investment, according to the trade ministry.
Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 01:58 UTC
Comic Beppe Grillo the outsider that has Italy’s political system “terrified”

Comic Beppe Grillo, a political newcomer is sending shockwaves to the Italian political system ahead of national elections. Touring the country in a camper van and attracting tens of thousands to his rallies, Grillo has channeled the rage and frustration that Italians feel at the rampant waste and corruption of their political leaders.
Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 01:53 UTC
Berlusconi rattles election campaign claiming Monti and Bersani have “Merkel’s blessing”

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti rowed back from comments suggesting that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had expressed opposition to his political rivals on the centre-left days before an election next week.
Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 01:22 UTC
Brazil/Russia agree to increase trade and cooperation in agriculture and defense

Brazil and Russia signed several agreements in different fields geared to increase trade and to advance in defense, energy and agriculture cooperation, including the purchase of Russian anti aircraft missile batteries on condition that Moscow agrees to transfer technology.
Thursday, February 21st 2013 - 05:46 UTC
Royal penguin being cared in New Zealand after stranding 2.000km from Antarctica

A royal penguin is being cared for at a New Zealand zoo after being found stranded on a beach 2,000km from its Antarctic home. The young male bird, which was dehydrated and starving, is thought to be only the fourth royal penguin to wash up there in more than a century.
Thursday, February 21st 2013 - 04:45 UTC
Brazilian soybean farmers oppose contract with Monsanto to end royalties’ dispute

Brazilian farmer groups are opposing a contract that Monsanto the world’s biggest seed company is offering farmers to end a dispute over royalty payments on its genetically modified soybean seeds. Monsanto is trying to resolve uncertainty over its ability to collect fees on its new Intacta soybeans, which it is scheduled to start selling in Brazil during the next growing season.