International

• Wednesday, August 31st 2011 - 08:11 UTC

  Mexico’s Pemex gains strong position in Spain’s Repsol with voting alliance

  

  Mexico's state oil monopoly Pemex said on Tuesday it aims to boost its access to top-end technology to explore for oil in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico by increasing its stake in Spanish oil firm Repsol.

• Wednesday, August 31st 2011 - 01:25 UTC

  HELL in New York!

  

  Last night's USA debut of “HELL” (which is the German word for “Bright”), was perhaps a wake-up call to those who do not heed the warnings of global warming.

• Wednesday, August 31st 2011 - 01:05 UTC

  Exxon clinches Arctic oil exploration deal with a Russian government company

  

  US oil major Exxon Mobil has clinched an Arctic oil exploration deal with Russian state-owned oil firm Rosneft. The venture seemingly extinguishes any remaining chance of UK’s BP reviving its own deal, which lapsed in May.

• Wednesday, August 31st 2011 - 00:58 UTC

  Hundreds of thousands remain without electricity in north east US and Quebec

  

  The cleanup after tropical storm Irene continued Tuesday across the Canadian province of Quebec, where the storm washed out roads, downed power lines and possibly contributed to one death. An 81-year old man died after he disappeared for several hours during the storm northeast of Montreal.

• Wednesday, August 31st 2011 - 00:53 UTC

  IMF slashes growth forecasts for US and Euro zone; warns against higher rates

  

  The IMF has slashed its growth forecasts for the United States and said the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank must be ready to ease policy.

• Wednesday, August 31st 2011 - 00:47 UTC

  Warm reception for Strauss-Kahn in his first return to the IMF

  

  Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn apologized Monday to the institution's staff in his first return visit since charges of sexual assault against him were dropped last week. He was greeted with warm applause.

• Wednesday, August 31st 2011 - 00:40 UTC

  FAO urges readiness against possible major resurgence of H5N1 avian influenza

  

  FAO urged heightened readiness and surveillance against a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly Bird Flu virus is spreading in Asia and beyond, with unpredictable risks to human health.

• Tuesday, August 30th 2011 - 03:52 UTC

  In divided ballot Japan’s ruling party chooses new PM, the sixth in five years

  

  Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda was chosen Monday to become the sixth prime minister in five years, but he needs to overcome a divided parliament and deep rifts in the ruling party if he is to make more of a mark than his recent predecessors.

• Monday, August 29th 2011 - 08:26 UTC

  MPs criticize “offensive” comedy on Lady Thatcher and ‘Falklands’ obsession’

  

  A new “grossly offensive” comedy on Channel 4 portraying Lady Thatcher as a sex-starved Falklands War obsessive, and mocking her frail mental health, has been criticised by MP's.

• Monday, August 29th 2011 - 03:30 UTC

  “Macroeconomics policies must support growth” warns IMF chief Lagarde

  

  The new head of the IMF urged global policymakers to pursue urgent coordinated action, including the mandatory recapitalization of European banks, or risk descent into renewed world recession.