International

• Sunday, August 2nd 2009 - 11:40 UTC

  China expected to recover strongly in second half of 2009

  

  China's economy would continue to recover from the world financial crisis in the latter half and expand at the rate of 8.5% for the whole year, said a report from the Bank of Communications on Sunday.

• Saturday, August 1st 2009 - 17:28 UTC

  British Airways reports £148m loss but cuts debt

  

  British Airways (BA) reported a larger-than-feared loss this morning, but provided some joy for investors after revealing that traffic was starting to stabilise and debts were falling.

• Saturday, August 1st 2009 - 02:57 UTC

  UK orders 40 Euro-fighter Typhoon valued in £ 3 billion

  

  Britain has agreed a £3 billion contract for 40 more Euro-fighter Typhoon jets for the RAF in a move the Government said will secure 15,000 British jobs. Defence equipment minister Quentin Davies joined counterparts from partner nations in Munich to sign the long-delayed deal for the fighter-bombers.

• Saturday, August 1st 2009 - 02:41 UTC

  Fresh report says world’s depleted fisheries can be saved

  

  There is fresh hope that the world's depleted fisheries can be saved from collapse, says a team of researchers. They said that efforts introduced to halt over-fishing in five of the 10 large marine ecosystems they examined were showing signs of success.

• Friday, July 31st 2009 - 12:30 UTC

  Japanese rating agency upgrades Uruguay’s debt to stable BB

  

  The Japanese Rating and Investment agency has upgraded Uruguay’s debt rating from BB- to BB with a stable outlook according to the latest release this week. This is two slots below investment grade and recognized among other factors the light public debt service burden until 2011.

• Friday, July 31st 2009 - 12:18 UTC

  Airbus recommends changing speed sensors for US made pitots

  

  Plane manufacturer Airbus has urged airlines to change the make of the majority of speed sensors on about 200 long haul aircraft. Airbus has issued a bulletin to airlines recommending that they switch the parts, also known as pitots, to those made by US manufacturer Goodrich.

• Friday, July 31st 2009 - 03:32 UTC

  Spanish Central bank warns about budget deficit and market confidence

  

  The Spanish economy contracted 0.9% in the second quarter of the year, an improvement over the 1.9% fall of the previous quarter but still 4% below the same quarter a year ago, according to the latest release from the Central Bank.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 14:05 UTC

  World skyscraper construction slips 10% in first half of 2009

  

  Construction on more than 10% of 1.306 planned skyscrapers was on hold at the end of June, and there were 11% fewer such projects under way compared with six months ago, according to a report released this week by Frankfurt based Emporis GmbH.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 14:02 UTC

  The US dollar to remain as world’s reserve currency says IMF chief

  

  The US dollar is likely to remain as the world’s reserve currency said on Wednesday International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn interviewed by France 24 television.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 06:11 UTC

  UK richest fifth have gross income 16 times higher than the poorest fifth

  

  The gap between the rich and poor in the United Kingdom remained at a high level in 2007-8, official statistics have shown. The richest fifth of the population had an income, before tax and benefits, 16 times greater than the poorest fifth.