International

• Sunday, May 22nd 2011 - 12:32 UTC

  European powers endorse French minister Lagarde as next IMF chief

  

  European leaders raced Saturday to nominate a successor for fallen IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn before a G8 summit in France next week, with French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde in pole position.

• Saturday, May 21st 2011 - 10:18 UTC

  Delhi proposal to triangle South Africa Customs Union, India and Mercosur

  

  India will be launching negotiations for a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) with Mercosur although it will first “expedite” talks for a preferential trade agreement with the South African Customs Union (SACU).

• Saturday, May 21st 2011 - 10:15 UTC

  IMF should have a new Managing Director by June 30

  

  The International Monetary Fund said on Friday that it is scheduled to complete the process of selecting a new managing director by June 30.

• Saturday, May 21st 2011 - 09:56 UTC

  Spaniards take to cities’ plazas and call for a protest no-vote in Sunday’s local elections

  

  Tens of thousands of Spaniards angry over unemployment protested for a sixth day, ahead of Sunday's local elections in which the ruling Socialists are expected to suffer heavy losses.

• Saturday, May 21st 2011 - 09:45 UTC

  Lipsky calls for continued support for ‘shaky’ economies in Europe

  

  The global economic recovery is accelerating but remains vulnerable to setbacks said IMF acting Managing Director John Lipsky said as he urged continued international support for shaky economies in Europe.

• Saturday, May 21st 2011 - 03:09 UTC

  EU and Latam lawmakers more positive about a trade agreement with Mercosur

  

  The outcome of a two-day European and Latin America lawmakers’ meeting in Uruguay was considered very positive and a strong message to forward negotiations on the sensitive EU/Mercosur trade and cooperation agreement.

• Friday, May 20th 2011 - 10:16 UTC

  China says new IMF chief should better represent emerging economies

  

  The new leadership of the IMF should reflect changes in the world economic order and be more representative of emerging market economies, People’s Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said on Thursday.

• Thursday, May 19th 2011 - 22:30 UTC

  Netanyahu rejects Obama’s proposal of Palestinian state on 1967 borders

  

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said US President Barack Obama vision of a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967 could leave the Jewish state “indefensible”.

• Thursday, May 19th 2011 - 22:22 UTC

  DSK granted bail and formally indicted; will appear in court June 6

  

  Dominique Strauss-Kahn on Thursday was granted bail by a judge in a New York court, after being formally charged with trying to rape a hotel maid. Strauss-Kahn had earlier resigned as the International Monetary Fund's boss.

• Thursday, May 19th 2011 - 22:19 UTC

  England decides to abstain from voting for FIFA presidency

  

  England’s Football Association's board has decided to abstain in the vote for the presidency of Fifa. Sepp Blatter, the current head of football's world governing body, is being challenged by Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam, the president of the Asian Football Confederation.