International

Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 12:08 UTC
Arctic ocean an “open sea” free of ice within a decade

The Arctic Ocean will be an “open sea” almost entirely free from ice within a decade, newly-released data has indicated. Ice cover during the summer months will have entirely disappeared within 20 years, but most of the decrease will happen before 2020, leaving the Arctic Ocean clear for marine transport.
Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 12:03 UTC
Dow Jones closest at its highest since October 2008: 10.015

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has topped the 10,000 mark for the first time in a year. World markets were boosted by the news that US bank JP Morgan Chase reported a better-than-expected profit in the July-to-September quarter. The Dow closed up 144.8 at 10,015.86, its highest since October 2008.
Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 11:58 UTC
Bovespa index at new high, having advanced 76% so far this year

Brazil's Bovespa stocks index and currency, the Real, extended recent rallies Wednesday to end at fresh highs not seen in more than a year. The main Sao Paulo stocks index ended 2.4% higher at a 16-month high of 66,201 points.
Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 07:47 UTC
China’s super rich linked to real estate and massive urbanization

The super rich from China seem to have put the credit crunch behind them as the average wealth of China’s richest 1,000 people grew 30% in the past 12 months, surpassing the boom of 2007, according to a report released this week in Shanghai.
Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 07:43 UTC
“Alternative Nobel” honors for climate-change awareness

Environmentalist David Suzuki has received a prestigious award known as the “alternative Nobel” for his work to raise awareness about climate change. Suzuki, 73, received the Right Livelihood Award, along with three other activists.
Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 03:16 UTC
UK unemployment predicted to continue soaring over 3 million

United Kingdom unemployment is still on course to soar above three million despite better-than-expected jobless figures, experts have warned. Official data showed unemployment rising to 2.47 million in the three months to August, an increase of 88,000 on the quarter to May
Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 03:13 UTC
China’s reserves reach 2.273 trillion USD, including 800 billion US bonds

China’s foreign-exchange reserves, the world’s biggest, climbed about 141 billion US dollars in the third quarter to a record 2.273 trillion USD, the People’s Bank of China said Wednesday on its Web site.
Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 02:59 UTC
Access to broadband connection becomes a right of citizens

As of next July 2010, access to a 1 Megabit-per-second broadband connection becomes a right for all Finnish citizens according to a decree from the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 09:39 UTC
OPEC optimistic about global recovery anticipates stronger demand for oil

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has predicted for next year an increase in global demand for oil driven by a global economic recovery. The 12-nation cartel said in its latest monthly report that 2010 world demand for crude would be 84.93 million barrels per day for an increase of 0.83%.
Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 09:36 UTC
“Naked” images scanner pilot test at Manchester airport

A trial of a scanner that produces “naked” images of passengers has begun at Manchester Airport, Britain. The authorities say it will speed up security checks by quickly revealing any concealed weapons or explosives.