International

• Monday, May 30th 2011 - 00:41 UTC

  “Fish pedicure” in the UK fuels health and animal welfare concerns

  

  One of the fastest-growing beauty treatments in Britain, fish pedicures – during which tiny toothless carp smooth down feet by eating dead skin – has come under new scrutiny from health experts and animal rights campaigners, reports the Sunday UK media.

• Saturday, May 28th 2011 - 07:48 UTC

  Weak sterling more significant than VAT for UK inbound tourists, says WTM Vision

  

  Overseas visitors to the UK will not be deterred by high VAT, providing sterling remains weak against key inbound currencies, reveals a report released this week at the World Travel Market (WTM) Vision Conference-London.

• Saturday, May 28th 2011 - 07:32 UTC

  IMF-head hopefuls visit next week Brazil as part of their global campaign for support

  

  The two leading candidates for the position of IMF Managing director will be visiting Brazil next week. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde plans to travel to Brasilia on Monday to seek support for her candidacy, the French embassy said Friday.

• Saturday, May 28th 2011 - 07:24 UTC

  Even if US tightens liquidity, hot money to emerging economies will continue

  

  Capital flows to emerging markets won’t significantly slow when the US Federal Reserve ends its bond-purchasing program known as quantitative easing, said Olivier Blanchard, chief economist at the IMF.

• Saturday, May 28th 2011 - 07:21 UTC

  Over 100 injured in Barcelona as police takes protestors with rubber bullets and tear gas

  

  Over 100 people were injured on Friday when police forcibly evicted protesters who have been camped out for two weeks in the main square of Barcelona as part of a nationwide mobilization against youth unemployment, austerity, corruption and the country’s political class

• Saturday, May 28th 2011 - 07:18 UTC

  Tough prospects for Japan: car output down; credit rating lowered and recession

  

  A complicated week for Japan: car production in April plunged as manufacturers continue to face a shortfall in parts supply and credit rating agencies downgraded the outlook on the country’s debt to negative from stable.

• Saturday, May 28th 2011 - 00:36 UTC

  Uruguay successfully floats Samurai bonds; warnings of economy over-heating

  

  Interest for Uruguayan ten-year bonds in Yens more than doubled the issue equivalent to 490 million US dollars. The bonds are guaranteed by Japan Bank for International Cooperation with a 1.6% yield.

• Friday, May 27th 2011 - 22:07 UTC

  Air France flight 447 stalled and in three and a half minutes crashed into the Atlantic

  

  The Air France jet which crashed into the Atlantic en route from Rio in 2009 stalled and fell in three and a half minutes, French investigators report. The air accident investigations bureau (BEA) found the crew had struggled with contradictory speed readings just before the plane crashed.

• Friday, May 27th 2011 - 18:37 UTC

  Lagarde too committed to the Euro to be nominated IMF chief, says top economist

  

  Finance Minister Christine Lagarde is the wrong choice to head the International Monetary Fund as it gets deeper into the Euro-zone rescue, a former IMF chief economist said this week.

• Friday, May 27th 2011 - 12:38 UTC

  Impact investment fund targeting low-cost housing in Brazil launches in London

  

  Origen Private Equity Ltd., a boutique investment firm headquartered in London, is launching in June what is set to be the first impact investment fund developing low-cost housing in north-east Brazil in conjunction with the Brazilian government's Minha Casa Minha Vida programme.