International

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 04:58 UTC

  Refuge crisis in Libya: over a million people fleeing says UN

  

  More than one million people fleeing Libya and inside the country need humanitarian aid, the United Nations said on Monday. The figures were issued by the world body's aid coordinator Valerie Amos as a refugee crisis built up around the borders of the North African country where a rebellion broke out last month against the 42-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 00:08 UTC

  Irish farmers occupy EU offices in Dublin to protest trade talks with Mercosur

  

  Irish farmers occupied Monday afternoon the offices of the European Commission in Dublin, over fears of a multibillion-Euro threat to the livestock industry from Mercosur.

• Monday, March 7th 2011 - 06:46 UTC

  Unemployment increased in Chile during Oct-Dec, stands at 7.3%

  

  Unemployment across Chile grew 0.2% in the last quarter (Oct-Dec) to stand at 7.3% nationally. That equates to 22,000 extra people who are without an income from the end of last year.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 06:55 UTC

  Chinese congress targets social stability; admits inflation and corruption

  

  China must ensure social stability by reducing inflation and corruption, Premier Wen Jiabao has told the parliament's annual session. Mr Wen has been addressing about 3,000 delegates to open the National People's Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 06:44 UTC

  About 70.000 people, 20% of the population have fled from Christchurch

  

  About 70,000 people, or 20% of the population, have fled Christchurch, New Zealand's second-largest city, since last week's devastating earthquake, Mayor Bob Parker said Friday.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 06:34 UTC

  Global construction to outpace GDP growth in next 10 years with China and India leading

  

  Global construction will outpace GDP growth over the next 10 years, with China and India accounting for 38% of the 4.8 trillion US dollars increase in output by 2020, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said this week.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 05:40 UTC

  Busy agenda for Chile’s Piñera in Europe and Israel and Palestine

  

  Chilean President Sebastián Piñera arrived in Italy this week for a three-day visit to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Vatican. It comes at a difficult time for Berlusconi, who is in the middle of a scandal and allegations of tax fraud and consorting with under-age prostitutes.

• Friday, March 4th 2011 - 22:55 UTC

  Socialist candidate, if elected, promises improved relations and dialogue with Gibraltar

  

  Spain’s ruling Socialist (PSOE) coalition candidate for mayor in La Linea, neighbouring with Gibraltar, promised to rebuild relations with the British Overseas Territory if she wins the forthcoming municipal election.

• Friday, March 4th 2011 - 22:03 UTC

  EU farmers warn trade talks with Mercosur could lead to a ‘total collapse’ of the beef sector

  

  European farmers’ organizations claimed on Thursday that current trade talks between the EU and Mercosur could lead to a “total collapse” of the EU beef sector.

• Friday, March 4th 2011 - 06:19 UTC

  Strauss-Khan describes IMF/Argentina relation as ‘romance” with love-hate periods

  

  The IMF relation with Argentina is like romance with its ups and downs, said IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Khan who added he trusted that the IMF technical mission that will be visiting Argentina to help elaborate a new retail prices index would achieve “significant advances”.