International

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 18:01 UTC

  EU agrees on tougher regulation for hedge funds, in spite of UK objections

  

  European Union finance ministers have agreed to introduce tougher regulation of the hedge fund industry. Ministers overrode objections by the new UK government and the City of London, where 80% of European funds are based.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 05:04 UTC

  Euro falls to its lowest since April 2006; fears of double dip in the economy

  

  The Euro fell to its lowest since April 2006 even as European finance ministers sought to dissipate concern that spending cuts to combat the region’s debt crisis won’t cause a double dip in the economy.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 04:59 UTC

  Chile’s Concha y Toro wines official sponsors of Manchester United

  

  England’s Manchester United agreed on a sponsorship accord with Vina Concha y Toro SA, making Chile’s largest winery the latest company to become an official partner of the 18-time English soccer champion.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 04:33 UTC

  Athens looking into US investment banks role in current Greek debt crisis

  

  Greece is investigating US investment banks and their role in the run-up to the Greek debt crisis which has shaken faith in Euro zone economies, Prime Minister George Papandreou said in comments broadcast.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 04:14 UTC

  Chile/EU agree to improve energy cooperation and increase trade

  

  Within the framework of the European Union/Latam leaders’ summit held in Madrid, the EU and Chile agreed to “improve and strengthen relations,” with a special focus on energy and trade, five years after the launch of the Association Agreement.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 01:02 UTC

  EU 27 and Latam/Caribbean 33 trade reached 140 billion Euros in 2009

  

  Between 2000 and 2009, the European Union 27 exports of goods to the 33 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries grew more slowly than imports: exports rose from 59 billion Euro to 66 billion, while imports increased from 54 billion to 74 billion, according to a Europa press release on the eve of the Madrid summit.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 01:00 UTC

  EU countries divided over extent of agriculture talks with Mercosur

  

  While in Madrid the re-launching of trade European Union/Mercosur trade talks was announced, in Brussels, a meeting of the Agriculture Council showed how sensitive the issue is and how divided EU members are on market access for highly competitive produce from the South American block.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 00:20 UTC

  Black list for governments that violate press freedom

  

  President Barack Obama has signed a law that requires the US State Department to compile a public list of foreign governments that violate press freedom.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 00:16 UTC

  European Commission launches discussions on fishing limits and sustainability

  

  The European Commission published Monday its report launching discussions on fishing opportunities in EU waters in 2011. The document sets out how the Commission intends to act on the scientific advice it receives on the state of fish stocks when proposing catch limits and quotas for next year.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 00:02 UTC

  EU and Mercosur agree to re-launch trade talks next July

  

  The European Union and the Latin American trade bloc Mercosur announced Monday that they were re-launching talks to create a free trade area of 800 million people. A tentative first meeting is scheduled for next July according to EU officials.