International

• Wednesday, May 12th 2010 - 03:54 UTC

  IMF: Euro Countries Must Focus on Cutting Deficits; Denies “Blanket Commitment”

  

  European countries saddled with debt should focus on cutting deficits in the wake of policy makers' unprecedented efforts to contain the region's sovereign-debt crisis, said John Lipsky from the International Monetary Fund.

• Wednesday, May 12th 2010 - 01:20 UTC

  Bank of England “No-Change” Policy; Leaves Assets-Purchase Program at £ 200bn

  

  The Bank of England held interest rates at record lows as policy-makers weighed up the impact of a Eurozone bailout and a hung parliament. The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee voted to hold rates at 0.5% and left its £200 billion program to boost the money supply unchanged.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 21:48 UTC

  PM Cameron Ends 13 Years of Labour Rule; First Coalition Government in 70 Years

  

  Conservative leader David Cameron became on Tuesday the new UK prime minister after the resignation of Gordon Brown. Mr Cameron, 43, entered 10 Downing Street after travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally accept the Queen's request to form the next government.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 16:29 UTC

  EU “Grumpy” Seven Led by France Against Trade Talks with Mercosur

  

  France and six other countries expressed concern before the European Union about the competition consequences for the farm sector in the event of an agreement with Mercosur.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 03:40 UTC

  PM Brown Steps Down to Open Way for Labour Government with Lib Dems

  

  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced he will step down as Labour leader by September, as his party opens formal talks with the Lib Dems about forming a government.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 03:35 UTC

  Euro Support Package Approved by Soaring Global Markets, but Doubts Linger

  

  Global stock markets soared after the European Union and International Monetary Fund intervened to stop the Greek debt crisis spreading and support the weakened Euro.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 01:24 UTC

  German Scientists Discover non Chartered Sunken Islands in the Caribbean

  

  German scientists announced on Monday they believe they have discovered sunken islands in the Caribbean Sea following a deep sea expedition in April.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 00:38 UTC

  FAO Honors Lula da Silva for Leadership in Fight Against Hunger

  

  The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) honoured Brazilian President Lula da Silva for his leadership in the fight against hunger and inadequate nutrition in his country and across the world.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 00:35 UTC

  Sir Elton John’s “Jesus Super-Intelligent Gay Man” Comment Bans him for Egypt

  

  Sir Elton John, 63, has been banned from performing in Egypt over his views on homosexuality and religion. The outspoken British pop icon was due to play a private show on 18 May but has been told he is not welcome.

• Monday, May 10th 2010 - 18:19 UTC

  Brazilian Contract for Jet Fighters, Another Chip in the EU/Mercosur Trade Talks

  

  French resistance to the resumption of Mercosur European Union trade talks caused great disappointment among the block’s members, but Brazil believes it has a strong bargaining chip for a greater opening of the European agriculture market: the several billions US dollars fighter planes contract for the Brazilian Air Force.