International

Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 21:16 UTC
BlackBerry outage sees traffic accidents plummet in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Police in Abu Dhabi and Dubai said the number of reported traffic accidents plunged during the recent three-day BlackBerry outage. In Dubai, traffic accidents fell 20% from average rates on the days BlackBerry users were unable to use its messaging service. In Abu Dhabi the drop was steeper, 40% and there were no fatal accidents.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 21:06 UTC
Who’s the best player ever: Pelé, Maradona, Romario or Messi?

Former Barcelona (1993/95) striker Romario and 1994 World Cup champion came on stage to say that Argentine star Lionel Messi still has some way to go before he can call himself the best player ever.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 20:51 UTC
What about “Life is short, have an affair” to sponsor a basketball team

Virtus Roma basketball team is in talks for a sponsorship deal with a website that helps unfaithful married people have an affair. Founder and president of www.ashleymadison.com Noel Biderman has been in talks with Roma president Claudio Toti for two days, something that has brought criticism from the Vatican.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 16:48 UTC
China’s economic expansion slowed down in third quarter; fears of Euro crisis impact

China's economic expansion slowed during the third quarter of the year as government measures to control inflation hurt growth. China's economy grew by 9.1% in the three months to the end of September from a year earlier, down from 9.5% in the previous quarter.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 16:37 UTC
UK Consumer inflation in September was 5.2%, the highest since 2008

The rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation in the UK matched its record high in September, rising to 5.2% from 4.5% the month before. An increase in energy costs was behind a large proportion of the rise.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 16:33 UTC
Great China (Beijing, HK, Singapore, Taiwan) reducing holdings of US debt

China has reduced its holdings of US debt to their lowest level in a year, after the US's credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor's (S&P). China sold 36.5bn dollars in US Treasuries or bonds to cut its holding to 1.137bn in August, latest data by the US Treasury Department showed.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 16:07 UTC
Assault ship HMS Bulwark becomes Britain new flagship for next four years

Britain has a new flagship with assault ship HMS Bulwark taking over the mantle from her sister vessel. Just two days after HMS Albion made her final entry to Plymouth for three years, and three days after she herself completed her last major training exercise, Bulwark is ready to assume the lead role, reports the UK Defence ministry.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 07:27 UTC
Germany committed to an EU/Mercosur trade agreement said Merkel

The European Union will seek to further discussions over a trade deal with Mercosur at the upcoming G20 summit in Cannes in November announced on Tuesday German Chancellor Angela Merkel alongside visiting Uruguayan president Jose Mujica.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 07:23 UTC
After the Falklands war, Brazil helped repatriate Argentine repressor jailed in the UK

The Brazilian dictatorship mediated before London in 1982 to have Navy Captain and notorious repressor Alfredo Astiz, repatriated to Argentina from Britain, where he had been flown after he surrendered the South Georgia garrison to the British Task Force.
Wednesday, October 19th 2011 - 07:15 UTC
Another face of American Airlines

”Welcome to our oneworld Alliance!” In his jovial and gentlemanly manner, Art Torno, American Airline's Vice President - New York, welcomed members of the Foreign Press Association on board the world of alliances and other topics regarding today's aviation industry.