International

Friday, March 19th 2010 - 01:21 UTC
Greece closer to the IMF; Euro plummets below 1.36 US dollars

News that Greece may go cap in hand to the IMF for help with its debt crisis prompted investors to rush for the relative safety of the dollar, which soared against the Euro on Thursday. The Euro fetched 1.3603 dollars down more than a US cent on late trading.
Friday, March 19th 2010 - 00:12 UTC
Proposal to ban Atlantic bluefin tuna international trade rejected

A proposal to ban international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna, which is a sushi mainstay in Japan, has been rejected by a UN wildlife meeting. Thursday's decision occurred after Japan, Canada and many poor nations opposed the measure on the grounds it would devastate fishing economies.
Friday, March 19th 2010 - 00:07 UTC
Inventor of the Web says WWW is a fundamental right for a democracy

The World Wide Web is becoming as important to the future of mankind as free speech, the inventor of the Web Sir Tim Berners-Lee has said. Because the network is neutral and access to data open, the Web is becoming a vital tool to ensure open government, and as such it should be considered a right.
Thursday, March 18th 2010 - 21:43 UTC
Policies to protect tigers have “failed miserably…and are continuing to fail”

Governments across the world have “failed miserably and… are continuing to fail” to halt the growth of illegal poaching and trade in tiger body parts, said Willem Wijnstekers, Secretary-General, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Thursday, March 18th 2010 - 21:36 UTC
Total ban on polar bears’ products trade rejected at UN wildlife meeting

Polar bears have lost out on increased protection under international law after a US led bid for a total ban on trade in products made from the animals, such as furs and rugs, was rejected at a UN wildlife meeting in Doha, Qatar, Thursday.
Thursday, March 18th 2010 - 02:02 UTC
Lula da Silva laid a wreath at Arafat’s mausoleum and ready “to talk to Hamas”

Brazil's president criticised Israeli policies towards the Palestinians, warning that Israel's separation barrier, its blockade of Gaza and its continued settlement building was extinguishing “the candle of hope”.
Wednesday, March 17th 2010 - 22:52 UTC
Astronomers detect outer solar system planet with “moderate” temperatures

European astronomers have found a planet outside our solar system with a relatively moderate temperature, far cooler than other “exoplanets” discovered to date. The planet Corot-9b has an estimated surface temperature between 160 C and -20 C. It has about 80% of the mass of Jupiter and its orbit is similar to that of Mercury.
Wednesday, March 17th 2010 - 22:42 UTC
Four banks accused of selling “toxic derivatives” to the city of Milan

Four major banks have been ordered to stand trial in Italy in a fraud case related to derivatives trading. JP Morgan Chase, UBS, Deutsche Bank and Germany's Depfa bank have been told they will be tried for aggravated fraud, along with 13 other people. The charges relate to the sale of derivates to the city of Milan.
Wednesday, March 17th 2010 - 22:37 UTC
China forecasted to grow 9.5%; inflation and real estate bubble real threats

The World Bank raised its China growth forecast this year to 9.5% from 9% but said Beijing needs to cool inflation and possible bubbles in real estate prices.
Wednesday, March 17th 2010 - 22:32 UTC
Germany favours exclusion of Euro-zone members to avert a currency crisis

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel says she wants the Euro-zone to be able to exclude one of its members in future if that is necessary to avert a crisis. Mrs Merkel told the German Bundestag (parliament) that existing EU rules were not strong enough to deal with the current crisis triggered by Greece.