International

• Tuesday, January 11th 2011 - 21:38 UTC

  FAO food prices index marks record; threat for global growth and social stability

  

  The United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO, global food prices index reached a record high in December, 2010 reported the organization this week. The FAO food index tracks a basket of 55 key food commodities including items such as wheat, cooking oil and fats and sugar.

• Friday, January 7th 2011 - 04:32 UTC

  India-Russia: Friends Forever

  

  It all began in 1955 with Indian Prime Minister Nehru’s maiden visit to the erstwhile Soviet Union and Khrushchev's reciprocal trip to India same year. Since then, Indo-Russian ties have withstood every test of time. During this period of over half a century, both nations ferried through turbulent waters. But the relationship between Moscow and New Delhi was never adversely affected per se.

• Friday, January 7th 2011 - 00:47 UTC

  Barcelona: Argentine private medevac plane arrested with 900k on cocaine

  

  Civil Guard officers based at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport have seized almost one ton of cocaine from a private medevac plane which recently landed at the airport, on a flight from Cabo Verde.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 20:52 UTC

  Chile supports Israel-Palestine peace dialogue; Piñera to visit the area next March

  

  The Chilean presidency Secretary General Eva Von Baer reterated this week that the Chilean Executive “fully supports the dialogue between both sides, the state of Israel and Palestine, and we support the continuation of such dialogue, and from that dialogue the creation of an independent Palestine state”.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 20:45 UTC

  China to the rescue of Europe confirms purchase of Spanish sovereign debt

  

  Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has said Beijing is willing to buy about Euro 6 billion worth of Spanish public debt, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Thursday, citing government sources.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 12:42 UTC

  Future Chinese PM promises full financial and economic support for Spain

  

  China has confidence in the Spanish financial market and will continue buying bonds issued by Spain’s government, Beijing’s Deputy prime minister said in an op-ed published in Madrid daily El Pais.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 12:25 UTC

  Korea resorts to vaccination to combat foot and mouth epidemic

  

  Overwhelmed by the rapid spread of foot and mouth disease FMD the South Korean government announced that it will vaccinate pigs, cows and all other cloven hoofed animals. The decision came after the highly contagious virus has turned into a nationwide epidemic, with livestock farms in the eastern province of Gangwon falling victim to the deadly disease.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 11:56 UTC

  Gold forecasted to break above 1.500 USD in 2011 after 29% rise in 2010

  

  Gold closed 2010 with its strongest annual performance since 2007 and marking a fifth straight month of gains in December, driven by a weaker dollar and global economic uncertainty.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 11:44 UTC

  Merkel committed to support the Euro, in spite of German public opinion

  

  Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed Germany's commitment to the Euro in her New Year message to the country last week.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 11:10 UTC

  As with Greece and Portugal, China comes to Spain’s rescue; 7.5 billion deals

  

  China and Spain signed this week business deals worth 7.5 billion US dollars, a welcome boost for Spain's recession-hit economy. Visiting Vice-Premier Li Keqiang also vowed to help Europe overcome its debt crisis (and support the Euro), as he started his three-nation European tour.