International

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 01:39 UTC

  European Parliament highly critical of EU/Mercosur trade talks

  

  The European Parliament passed a highly critical report on trade negotiations between the EU and the Mercosur bloc for considering that they may imply “farming concessions damaging to European producers.”

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 01:36 UTC

  IMF nominates Egyptian national Deputy Managing Director

  

  Ms. Nemat Shafik, a national of Egypt and the UK has been nominated to the position of Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. She will succeed Mr. Murilo Portugal, who resigned effective March 4, 2011.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 01:19 UTC

  Sino-American and trade expert nominated US ambassador in Beijing

  

  President Barack Obama will nominate Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who this year criticized China for not opening its markets, as next US ambassador to Beijing, two administration officials said.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 01:08 UTC

  Piñera presented with “Star of Palestine” honour; avoids pre-1967 borders controversy

  

  Chile’s President Sebastian Piñera visited both sides of the hotly contested Israeli- Palestine border this weekend. He reasserted his support for an independent Palestinian state, but fell short of formally recognizing the pre-1967 borders.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 00:59 UTC

  Half the world consider Brazil has a positive influence on global affairs, says BBC poll

  

  The number of people who see Brazil as having a positive influence in the world is rising rapidly, according to a BBC World Service poll of 27 countries. The country is regarded positively by 49%, compared with 40% last year - the largest jump by any of the 16 nations respondents are asked to comment on.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 22:39 UTC

  China admits “labour surplus” of 32 million, 14 million of which college graduates

  

  China, normally contrary to releasing unemployment figures, has admitted to having a “labour surplus” of 32 million workers, according to Human Resources and Social Security minister Yin Weimin.

• 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.