International

• 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.

• Monday, May 17th 2010 - 05:01 UTC

  Australia celebrates 16 year old Jessica’s round the world sailing feat

  

  Australians gathered Saturday around Sydney harbour to welcome back teenager Jessica Watson from her record round-the-world sailing adventure. The 16-year-old is said to be the youngest person to sail non-stop, solo and unassisted around the world.

• Monday, May 17th 2010 - 01:46 UTC

  Europe living “truly dramatic times”, the most difficult since WWI, says Trichet

  

  European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet called for more effective sanctions against countries violating the region’s Stability and Growth Pact and said the ECB acted independently when it bought government bonds, Spiegel magazine reported, citing an interview.

• Monday, May 17th 2010 - 01:42 UTC

  Spanish unions have ten days to agree on labour market reforms

  

  Spanish unions and employees organizations have ten days to come up with an agreement of labour reform or the government will approve the initiative by decree, according to reports in the Madrid press.

• Saturday, May 15th 2010 - 04:49 UTC

  World Stock Markets Plunge and Euro Falls to 18-Month Low

  

  World stock markets plunge Friday and the Euro hit an 18-month low against the dollar, on growing fears that the austerity packages unveiled across Europe could tip the continent back into recession and stifle global economic recovery.

• Saturday, May 15th 2010 - 04:39 UTC

  Volcker Fears Potential Disintegration of the Euro, Without Common Fiscal Policy

  

  Former Federal Reserve chairman and advisor of the Obama administration is concerned that the Euro area may break up after the Greek fiscal crisis that sparked an unprecedented bailout by the region’s members.

• Saturday, May 15th 2010 - 04:37 UTC

  IMF Warns Developed Countries on “Urgent” Need to Cut Budget Deficits

  

  The International Monetary Fund has warned developed nations they face an “urgent” need to cut their budget deficits. Its warning comes as a slew of European countries face public unrest over their attempts to do just that.

• Saturday, May 15th 2010 - 04:29 UTC

  Gibraltar Celebrates: Hague and Fox “Could not be Better Choices”

  

  Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana gave the warmest welcome the Rock could give to a new Foreign Secretary as he described William Hague, former Tory leader, as a “safe pair of hands” from Gibraltar's perspective.

• Saturday, May 15th 2010 - 04:23 UTC

  Hillary Clinton and Hague Reaffirm “Unbreakable Alliance”

  

  US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and new British Foreign Minister William Hague met on Friday in Washington, vowing to strengthen the U.S.-Britain strategic alliance on addressing common challenges.

• Saturday, May 15th 2010 - 04:20 UTC

  German Economy Rebounds in the First Quarter of 2010 with 0.2% Expansion

  

  The German economy—Europe's largest—expanded 0.2% in the first quarter of 2010, beating forecasts of zero growth. Many analysts predicted German GDP would stagnate in the quarter.