International

• Wednesday, September 7th 2011 - 10:54 UTC

  Americans, Brazilians and Spanish, the ‘coolest nationalities” in the world

  

  The Americans have been voted the world's “coolest nationality” in an international poll, the Brazilians the coolest in Latin America and the Spanish in Europe, according to social networking site Badoo.com.

• Wednesday, September 7th 2011 - 10:43 UTC

  US and European shares continue to slide waiting for strong political decisions

  

  US and European shares have both fallen as concerns continue about the high level of Euro zone debt, as well as the risk of a return to recession on both sides of the Atlantic.

• Wednesday, September 7th 2011 - 04:35 UTC

  Spain’s conservative opposition extends lead over Socialists to 15 points

  

  Spain’s conservative opposition People’s Party (PP) has extended its lead over the ruling Socialists and is on course to win a parliamentary majority in the November 20 elections, according to an opinion poll on Sunday.

• Wednesday, September 7th 2011 - 04:03 UTC

  Cambridge, Harvard best world universities; US and UK monopolize top rankings

  

  Cambridge has retained its premier status in the QS World University Rankings, beating Harvard for a second year, as UK and US institutions again took the top 10 spots. Latin America figured badly with only six ranked in the 300 universities reviewed, the best in position 169.

• Tuesday, September 6th 2011 - 22:12 UTC

  Emirates airline to open daily non-stop service Bangkok/Rio do Janeiro/Buenos Aires

  

  Two of South America’s most iconic cities will soon have a faster link to Bangkok when Emirates commences its daily non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro and extension to Buenos Aires from 3rd January 2012.

• Tuesday, September 6th 2011 - 20:11 UTC

  UN warn austerity measures and deficit cuts is pushing the world towards disaster

  

  The pursuit of austerity measures and deficit cuts is pushing the world economy towards disaster in a misguided attempt to please global financial markets, the annual report of the United Nations economic think-tank UNCTAD said on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, September 6th 2011 - 20:08 UTC

  Swiss central bank puts a cap to the Franc to combat massive overvaluation

  

  The Swiss central bank announced Tuesday a ceiling on the currency by setting an exchange rate minimum against the Euro. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) boldest move states that the exchange rate between the Swiss franc and the Euro must not drop below 1.20 Euros. And if it does, the Swiss bank is prepared to enforce the minimum by selling francs and buying up euros “in unlimited quantities.”

• Tuesday, September 6th 2011 - 16:37 UTC

  International Literacy Day: 793 million adults can neither read nor write

  

  This year’s International Literacy Day, celebrated world-wide on 8 September, will focus on the link between literacy and peace.

• Tuesday, September 6th 2011 - 06:31 UTC

  A China/Mercosur trade agreement would be “something extraordinary”

  

  A free trade agreement, (FTA), between China and Mercosur could be “something extraordinary”, said Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman who next Thursday begins a political and business mission in Beijing.

• Tuesday, September 6th 2011 - 06:28 UTC

  European markets plunge on renewed Euro fears and lack of confidence

  

  World shares fell Tuesday morning and the Euro came under pressure following a huge sell-off in Europe as renewed Euro zone debt woes added to already weak confidence in the global economy.