International

• Friday, December 3rd 2010 - 06:13 UTC

  IMF prepares for crisis scenario: plans to double lending capacity to 450 billion

  

  IMF expects to double its lending capacity to 450 billion US dollars over the next few months, giving it additional firepower to deal with the sovereign-debt crisis engulfing Europe, according to IMF officials and documents.

• Friday, December 3rd 2010 - 05:49 UTC

  2010 among the three warmest years since climate records started in 1850

  

  The year 2010 is almost certain to rank in the top 3 warmest years since the beginning of instrumental climate records in 1850, according to data sources compiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

• Thursday, December 2nd 2010 - 23:05 UTC

  Relief in Euro zone as ECB extends availability of emergency loans to banks

  

  The European Central Bank moved Thursday to contain the continent's government debt crisis, extending the availability of emergency loans and keeping its benchmark lending rate at one percent.

• Thursday, December 2nd 2010 - 04:19 UTC

  WTO warns rich countries stimulus can jeopardize trade and investments

  

  Stimulus and bailout packages undertaken to cope with the economic crisis can have an impact on trade and investment and need to be managed carefully, according to the head of the World Trade Organization.

• Thursday, December 2nd 2010 - 04:15 UTC

  Cruise industry blasts latest IMO environmental rules

  

  One of the cruise industry's top executives this week openly criticized new environmental rules that he says will have a profound impact on cruise lines.

• Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 22:38 UTC

  Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Caruana entangled over the Andorra status

  

  Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana has moved to lance the bubble of speculation that followed reports of his mention of the Andorra (*) status at a talk to political and business leaders in Seville last week.

• Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:51 UTC

  China opens market to Argentine beef, barley, dairy produce and apples

  

  China and Argentina have signed agreements to allow the import to China of de-boned beef, dairy products, apples, bamboo and barley, China's quarantine administration said on Wednesday. However no mention was made of an expected deal on corn.

• Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:27 UTC

  Euro at 11 month low and Portuguese banks face “intolerable risk”

  

  The Euro remains near 11-month lows against the US dollar as European debt concerns continue to focus on Portugal. With the Portuguese government due to auction 500m Euros of bonds later, analysts are waiting to see the extent of market interest.

• Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:07 UTC

  UK company secures contract to repair and maintain Chilean navy frigates

  

  UK BAE Systems has secured a two year extended agreement with Chilean ship build and repair organisation ASMAR to provide support to the country's navy Type 22 and Type 23 frigates in a move that is set to enhance Chile's naval capability.

• Tuesday, November 30th 2010 - 05:45 UTC

  Irish bail out package fails markets’ test; growing fears about Portugal and Spain

  

  The Euro has fallen against the dollar and major European markets have dropped sharply, a day after ministers agreed a bail-out for the Irish Republic. On Sunday, European ministers reached agreement over a bail-out worth about 85bn Euros.