International

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 23:41 UTC

  IMF says China can partially offset the impact of a global crisis

  

  China has the scope to respond if global economic risks materialize, and the country's response could partially but not entirely offset the impact of a global crisis, the International Monetary Fund's Asia and Pacific director said on Thursday.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 23:14 UTC

  German banks fear tough EU recapitalization standards could backfire

  

  Germany's banks have said that they should not be pushed to increase their financial cushions beyond existing law under the European Union's effort to shore up the financial system against the debt crisis.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 23:02 UTC

  UK forces provide a visible demonstration of UK sovereignty over the Falklands

  

  Next year 30 years will have elapsed since the Falklands conflict, and 13.000km from the UK, the Falklands Garrison is still very much a going concern, providing protection and reassurance for the Islands.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 07:44 UTC

  Blackberry problems spread to the US and main users in South America

  

  Problems with the Blackberry smart-phone system appear to have spread to the United States and several South American countries. Users began to report loss of services on Wednesday, with many turning to Twitter to complain about their lack of email.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 21:30 UTC

  UK unemployment at its highest since 1994 reaches 2.57 million

  

  Unemployment in Britain has jumped to its highest level since 1994, with young people hit hardest as private companies fail to make up for job losses in the public sector, piling pressure on the government to boost a stagnant economy.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 21:28 UTC

  Slovakia parties agree to vote for Euro rescue plan, and advance elections

  

  Parties in Slovakia's fallen government struck a deal with the leftist opposition Wednesday to ratify a plan to bolster the Euro zone's rescue fund by Friday, effectively ending a crisis that had threatened the currency's main safety net.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 21:26 UTC

  EC president calls for decisive action on Euro banks recapitalization and Greece

  

  The president of the European Commission called Wednesday for EU leaders to bring forward the introduction of a permanent rescue mechanism for states to mid-2012 from mid-2013 and called for more rigorous capital standards for banks.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 06:27 UTC

  S&P and Fitch downgrade main Spanish banks ratings on “dimmed” prospects

  

  Spanish banks including Banco Santander SA and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA had their ratings cut by Standard & Poor’s, which cited “dimming” growth prospects and “heightened” market turbulence.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 06:00 UTC

  Colombia supports Palestinian state, but insists negotiations with Israel are crucial

  

  Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas left Colombia empty-handed Tuesday after failing to secure support from President Juan Manuel Santos for his bid to gain state recognition at the United Nations.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 05:52 UTC

  Football star says Brazil “can’t become a slave of FIFA”

  

  Brazil football star Romario has said FIFA must not be allowed to dictate changes to Brazilian law ahead of the World Cup in 2014. Romario, who is now a congressman, said laws that guarantee half-price tickets to students and pensioners should not be swept away.