International

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 20:45 UTC

  US State Department will no longer comment Wikileaks cables

  

  While offering a press conference in Washington DC, US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley refused to comment on the recently released Wikileaks cables that mention Argentina and said his government would refrain from doing so in the future.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 05:22 UTC

  Oil prices ease as OPEC begins talks to increase output replacing Libya

  

  Oil dropped for a second day in New York as members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries considered talks about increasing production because violence is disrupting supplies from Libya.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 04:46 UTC

  Repsol will explore for oil in the North Slope of Alaska

  

  Repsol, Spain’s main energy group will be investing a minimum of 768 million US dollars for the exploration of oil in the North Slope of Alaska. The operation is a joint venture with the Denver, Colorado US firms 70 & 148 LLC and GMT Exploration LLC, points out a release from Repsol.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 04:40 UTC

  EC tries to downplay impact for farmers of an EU/Mercosur trade agreement

  

  A trade agreement with Mercosur should not have to destroy the European beef industry, said on Tuesday a spokesperson for the European Community who added that such fears are ‘exaggerated’.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 01:39 UTC

  European Parliament highly critical of EU/Mercosur trade talks

  

  The European Parliament passed a highly critical report on trade negotiations between the EU and the Mercosur bloc for considering that they may imply “farming concessions damaging to European producers.”

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 01:36 UTC

  IMF nominates Egyptian national Deputy Managing Director

  

  Ms. Nemat Shafik, a national of Egypt and the UK has been nominated to the position of Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. She will succeed Mr. Murilo Portugal, who resigned effective March 4, 2011.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 01:19 UTC

  Sino-American and trade expert nominated US ambassador in Beijing

  

  President Barack Obama will nominate Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who this year criticized China for not opening its markets, as next US ambassador to Beijing, two administration officials said.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 01:08 UTC

  Piñera presented with “Star of Palestine” honour; avoids pre-1967 borders controversy

  

  Chile’s President Sebastian Piñera visited both sides of the hotly contested Israeli- Palestine border this weekend. He reasserted his support for an independent Palestinian state, but fell short of formally recognizing the pre-1967 borders.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 00:59 UTC

  Half the world consider Brazil has a positive influence on global affairs, says BBC poll

  

  The number of people who see Brazil as having a positive influence in the world is rising rapidly, according to a BBC World Service poll of 27 countries. The country is regarded positively by 49%, compared with 40% last year - the largest jump by any of the 16 nations respondents are asked to comment on.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 22:39 UTC

  China admits “labour surplus” of 32 million, 14 million of which college graduates

  

  China, normally contrary to releasing unemployment figures, has admitted to having a “labour surplus” of 32 million workers, according to Human Resources and Social Security minister Yin Weimin.