International

Friday, September 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Debt strapped Spanish builder wants out from Repsol-YPF

The impact of Spain's housing market crash has a new chapter: construction company Sacyr Vallehermoso SA is considering selling its 20% stake in oil major Repsol-YPF, as it struggles with a sinking property market and soaring financial costs, according to an announcement released Friday by Spain's Markets Commission, CNMV.
Friday, September 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EU cuts bio-fuels target for transport road to 10% by 2020

European Union lawmakers voted this week to cut in half an ambitious target for using crop-based bio-fuels for 10% of its road transport needs by 2020. The vote by the European Parliament's industry committee deals a blow to climate change goals agreed by EU leaders last year to try to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Thursday, September 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Nuclear power predicted to continue to expand strongly

The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday that nuclear power is expected to continue to expand in the coming decades in line with the growing global demand for energy, while also reporting that the power source's share of global electricity generation dropped another percentage point in 2007 to 14%.
Thursday, September 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Gibraltar celebrates National Day and self determination

”Gibraltar (*) is now a modern, economically and socially prosperous community and we are politically advanced, mature and self assured. We no longer need to claim our right to self determination. We have it” said Gibraltar's Chief Minister Peter Caruana in his advance of the September 11 National Day message.
Thursday, September 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EC forecasts recession ahead for UK, Spain and Germany

United Kingdom is forecasted to fall into recession by the end of the year alongside Spain and Germany after a “sharper than expected” slowdown, the European Commission has predicted.
Thursday, September 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN underlines bumper crops and potential of Russia and Ukraine

A senior United Nations food agency official on Thursday predicted a bumper harvest of cereal crops in Russia and Ukraine for this year and said the region possesses significant untapped agricultural potential.
Wednesday, September 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Cautious OPEC to strictly comply with agreed quotas

OPEC has told its members to strictly limit their production to agreed quotas as Brent crude dipped below 100 US dollars a barrel for the first time since April. After talks in Vienna, OPEC president Chakib Khelil said the measures to curb over-production amounted to a cut of 520,000 barrels a day within 40 days.

Prices have sunk from a record of more than 147 US dollars a barrel seen in July.
Wednesday, September 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
China trade surplus hits new record in August: 28.7 b. USD

China's trade surplus hit a monthly record of 28.7 billion US dollars in August, despite weaker world demand. Other official data showed consumer inflation in the month decreased considerably to a 14 month low of 4.9%.
Wednesday, September 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Norway blacklists Rio Tinto over environment concerns

Norway is banning its sovereign wealth fund from investing in Anglo-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto because of environmental concerns. The country's Finance minister Kirsten Halvorsen said the 875 million US dollars stake held by the country's “oil fund” would be sold.
Wednesday, September 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN: soaring prices and agro-fuel threaten right to food

The global food crisis caused by soaring prices is jeopardizing the right to food, and any potential solution to the problem must be viewed through the lens of human rights, an independent United Nations expert said Wednesday.