International

• Saturday, March 13th 2010 - 00:14 UTC

  China oil demand in January jumps “astonishing 28%” says IEA

  

  China's demand for oil jumped by an “astonishing” 28% in January compared with the same month a year earlier, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says.

• Friday, March 12th 2010 - 23:25 UTC

  German Left leader warns on “extreme presidentialism” in Socialist Latinamerica

  

  Gregor Gysi the leader of Germany’s Left considers a serious problem the extreme “presidentialism” of the new left wing governments in Latinamerica and said Cuba was on the wrong track if it believes social justice demands sacrificing liberties.

• Friday, March 12th 2010 - 20:44 UTC

  Beijing proposes Paraguay trade and cultural links

  

  China has proposed to Paraguay a gradual process of rapprochement with special emphasis in trade and cultural fields at a first stage, revealed Paraguay’s Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata.

• Friday, March 12th 2010 - 01:03 UTC

  Forbes list includes 36 Latinamericans with fortunes above a billion dollars

  

  A total of 36 Latinamericans figure in the Forbes list of men with fortunes greater than a billion dollars, like the Mexican Carlos Slim, the new Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, and the Brazilian Eike Batista, as well as drug lord Joaquín Guzmán Loera, “El Chapo,” informed Forbes magazine.

• Friday, March 12th 2010 - 00:00 UTC

  February inflation in China anticipates further tightening of credit

  

  Chinese inflation hit a 16-month high in February, causing economists to call for the government to tighten the economy to prevent overheating. The annual rate of consumer price inflation rose to 2.7% in February, up from 1.5% in January, and ahead of analysts' expectations of 2.3%.

• Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 23:45 UTC

  China’s exports, imports soar in February, in spite of New Year festivities

  

  China's exports jumped by 46% in February compared with a year ago, raising hopes of a strong recovery in global trade. The increase was higher than analysts' expectations of a rise of between 35% and 40%.

• Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 23:33 UTC

  Many governments use internet “to curtail freedom of expression”

  

  Many governments have used the internet to curtail freedom of expression at home, the US state department says in its latest annual human rights report.

• Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 04:34 UTC

  Lloyd’s Register, Maersk on program to test bio-diesel for marine engines

  

  Lloyd's Register is to play a major role in a two year program to test the suitability of bio-diesel for use in powering marine engines. The feasibility study will take place on board the Maersk Line container ship, Maersk Kalmar.

• Wednesday, March 10th 2010 - 23:10 UTC

  Minister Bryant at Piñera’ inauguration praises Chilean resilience

  

  British Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant visits Chile for the inauguration of President-elect Sebastian Piñera, Thursday March 11 and to see areas of Chile affected by the recent earthquake.

• Wednesday, March 10th 2010 - 19:30 UTC

  Spanish opposition willing to accept advances in Spain/Gibraltar relations

  

  The Mayor of the Spanish town of La Linea, Alejandro Sanchez has declared that relations with Gibraltar and “attaining the maximum level of cross-border understanding and cooperation” should be pursued by an incoming PP (Partido Popular) (conservative) Government in Madrid.