International

• Thursday, August 11th 2011 - 06:31 UTC

  Three credit rating agencies confirm France as triple-A with stable outlook

  

  Moody’s, Standard & Poor's (S&P) and Fitch confirmed Wednesday that France still rates as a triple-A country with a stable outlook. The comments came in response to market rumours of a French sovereign credit rating downgrade, which hit French bank stocks.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2011 - 20:32 UTC

  US to ask China why it needs an aircraft carrier and calls for military transparency

  

  The United States said Wednesday it would like China to explain why it needs an aircraft carrier amid broader US concerns about Beijing's lack of transparency over its military aims.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2011 - 17:43 UTC

  PM Cameron authorizes water cannons and baton rounds against rioting

  

  UK Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday authorized police to use water cannons after four nights of rioting, looting and arson - saying a “fight back” is under way to restore law and order to Britain's streets.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2011 - 17:39 UTC

  UK tourism authority pulls down ‘Visit Britain’ ads and videos

  

  “Visit Britain”, the UK's tourism authority, has pulled a video promoting Britain with the tag line “You're Invited” from adverts running alongside BBC iPlayer programs overseas, reports The Guardian.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2011 - 07:35 UTC

  US, EU and Asian markets rebound strongly on Fed Reserve announcement

  

  Asian markets rebounded after the US Federal Reserve said it will keep interest rates on hold and Wall Street had its best day in two years. The decision by the US central bank to keep rates at current levels until at least 2013 helped stem one of the biggest sell-offs in recent years.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2011 - 07:30 UTC

  China’s surplus highest in two years, but export growth rate expected to slow

  

  China’s trade surplus surged to 31.5 billion dollars in July, the highest level in more than two years, as exports rose to a record. Exports climbed 20.4% from a year earlier while imports surged 22.9%, the Customs bureau said on its website Wednesday.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2011 - 05:38 UTC

  London relatively quite with 16.000 police, but rioting extends to other cities

  

  Hundreds of people were arrested as the worst rioting in a generation spread from London to cities across the length and breadth of England.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2011 - 21:53 UTC

  Inflation in China higher than expected; food prices climb 14.8% in 12 months

  

  Inflation in China was higher than expected in July, despite a series of efforts by the government to rein in prices. Consumer prices in July rose 6.5% compared with the same month last year, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2011 - 19:25 UTC

  “Demanding Falklands’ sovereignty talks before anything else, states Argentina’ current default position”

  

  In an interview with the Buenos Aires Herald, Argentine Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli demands that Falklands’ sovereignty talks must be started before any other issues can be discussed.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2011 - 12:53 UTC

  “The most significant financial crisis capitalism has faced in contemporary history”

  

  “I have no doubts we are before the most significant financial crisis capitalism has faced in contemporary history”, said Uruguay’s Vice-president Danilo Astori when asked about the possible consequences for the region if the lack of confidence in the US dollar and Euro extends.