International

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 06:05 UTC

  IMF announces more loans and zero interest for the world’s poorest countries

  

  The IMF has announced a new framework for loans to the world’s poorest nations, including increased resources, a doubling of borrowing limits, zero interest rates until the end of 2011, and more flexible terms.

• Wednesday, July 29th 2009 - 12:26 UTC

  Russia to experiment fishing guided by the Space Station

  

  Russian cosmonauts working at the International Space Station will help the country’s fishing fleet to detect fish schools and other resources in oceans according to the Russian Space Flights Control Centre (SFCC).

• Wednesday, July 29th 2009 - 12:24 UTC

  US/China agree to fight protectionism, but doubts linger on US dollar

  

  United States and China are committed to fighting protectionism, said US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner following two days of high-level talks. The two countries share an interest in ensuring that trade remained “open and rules-based”.

• Wednesday, July 29th 2009 - 12:22 UTC

  British Tories 18 points ahead of Labour, show latest poll

  

  British Conservatives have stretched their lead over Labour to 18 points, according to a new opinion poll. The ComRes survey put David Cameron's party on 42%, up six points on last month's poll, with Labour down one point on 24%.

• Tuesday, July 28th 2009 - 14:50 UTC

  European Union tightens fisheries conservation policies

  

  The European Union is committed to combat all predatory practices in the European Community seas and globally to ensure the conservation of many species on the verge of extinction. For this purpose the EC has the Community Fisheries Control Agency, CFCA, based in Vigo, Spain.

• Tuesday, July 28th 2009 - 14:39 UTC

  US/China ever more competitors but also inter-dependent

  

  The relationship between United States and China will shape the 21st Century, said President Barack Obama as top officials met Monday in Washington for talks. “Co-operation, not confrontation” was the way forward, he said, with climate change, security and the economy all areas where common ground existed.

• Tuesday, July 28th 2009 - 14:35 UTC

  British Chancellor warns banks about interest rates

  

  Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has told bank chiefs that businesses should be given the lowest possible interest rates on borrowing.

• Tuesday, July 28th 2009 - 14:22 UTC

  Pope Benedict XVI names Catholic Bishop of British Forces

  

  Pope Benedict XVI has announced that Monsignor Richard Moth, currently Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Southwark, England, will be the next Catholic Bishop of the British Forces.

• Tuesday, July 28th 2009 - 14:18 UTC

  Swedish made weapons sold to Venezuela turn up in Colombian guerrilla camp

  

  Sweden has asked Venezuela to explain how Swedish-made weapons ended up in the hands of Colombia's Farc rebels. Swedish officials said the anti-tank rocket launchers had been sold to Venezuela in the 1980s.

• Monday, July 27th 2009 - 12:15 UTC

  Fin whale wedged to the bow of cruise ship in Canada

  

  A rare whale was discovered wedged on to the bow of a cruise ship when it docked in a Canadian port Saturday morning. The 21 metres fin whale, a threatened species in Canada, was found when the Sapphire Princess docked at the Port of Vancouver, the cruise company said.