International

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 22:05 UTC

  Vodafone forced to send pro-Mubarak mobile-phone text messages

  

  UK’s Vodafone was ordered to send mobile-phone text messages by the Egyptian government, urging people to confront “traitors and criminals” as demonstrators demanded the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 22:02 UTC

  UN forecasts period of “food volatility and supply disruptions”

  

  The world is going into a period of food volatility and supply disruptions due in part to weather related problems and a backdrop of rising prices, the UN World Food Program's executive director said.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 21:56 UTC

  Santander, Euro zone largest bank helped by solid results in UK and Brazil

  

  The collapse of the Spanish property prices helped pull annual profit down 8.5% at the Euro zone largest bank Santander. Solid results from Brazil and Britain, which each account for more profit than Spain at the diversified bank, failed to calm fears about exposure to a stagnant domestic economy, struggling to shake off the worst recession in half a century.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 21:17 UTC

  With inflation pressures ‘contained’, ECB leaves interest rates unchanged

  

  European Central Bank (ECB) has kept interest rates in the Euro zone unchanged at a record low 1%, despite fears of increasing inflation. Speaking at a press conference after the rate decision, the ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet claimed that inflation pressures remained contained.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 17:31 UTC

  British scientists develop blood test for the human version of BSE (mad cow)

  

  The first reliable blood test for the fatal Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) – said to be 100,000 times more accurate than the current method – has been developed by British scientists.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 17:05 UTC

  Air traffic strong recovery in 2010, but oil prices derail 2011 prospects

  

  Air traffic increased 8.2% in the passenger business and 20.6% in freight according to the full 2010 report from the International Air Transport Association, IATA. Middle-East, Asia-Pacific and Africa regions were above average in passenger transport and Latinamerica led in cargo expansion.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 16:40 UTC

  World food prices at historic peak in January seventh month running, says FAO

  

  World food prices surged to a new historic peak in January, for the seventh consecutive month, according to the updated FAO Food Price Index, a commodity basket that regularly tracks monthly changes in global food prices.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 06:31 UTC

  Cairo’s Tahir Square battle rages on; snipers shooting on protestors

  

  Gunfire has rung out in the early hours of Thursday around Cairo's Tahrir Square, where Egyptian anti-government protesters are camping out. At least two people are reported dead. On Wednesday three died in clashes with supporters of President Hosni Mubarak.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 01:53 UTC

  Spain’s second biggest bank boosted by strong Latin American profits

  

  BBVA, Spain's second-biggest bank, reported on Wednesday a full year 9.4% net profit increase in 2010 as solid results from Latin America offset continued weakness in its domestic market.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 01:50 UTC

  Spain celebrates 20th anniversary of Cervantes Institute in 44 countries

  

  Spain’s Cervantes Institute to promote Spanish language and culture is marking its 20th anniversary with more than 6,500 activities at the 77 centres is has opened in 44 countries and among this year’s plans is the inauguration of a centre in Gibraltar.