International

Friday, March 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Virulent wheat fungus spreading in Asian grain areas says FAO

The United Nations food agency has asked wheat-producing nations in Asia, including India and Pakistan to be on high alert following a report that a new virulent wheat fungus has moved to major wheat-growing areas in Iran.
Friday, March 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Fertilizer production expected to outstrip demand says FAO

World fertilizer production is expected to outstrip demand over the next five years and will support higher levels of food and bio-fuel production, FAO said in a new report entitled “Current world fertilizer trends and outlook to 2011/12”, published this week.
Friday, March 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
“Green Passport” campaign launched at Berlin Tourism Fair

A “Green Passport' campaign” was launched Friday at a world tourism fair aims at shrinking the environmental footprint of vacation travelers, according to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
Friday, March 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Many women round the world “still face discrimination”

Almost every country in the world still has laws that discriminate against women, and promises to remedy this have not been kept, the top United Nations human rights official said on Friday, speaking on the eve of International Women's Day.
Thursday, March 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Hard times for some of Europe's leading financial institutions

Some of Europe's leading banks are also facing problems as a consequence of the downfall from the US credit crisis and for having possibly breached US rules banning banks from doing business with countries on a terrorist blacklist.

France's biggest retail bank Credit Agricole made a loss in the last three months of 2007, hit by a hefty charge at its Calyon investment banking arm.
Thursday, March 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
OPEC freezes oil output and blames US for high crude prices

OPEC accused the United States on Wednesday of economic “mismanagement”, which it said is pushing oil prices to new record highs and rejected calls to increase output. Oil prices surged for the first time past 104 US dollars a barrel after OPEC's announcement and a US government release showing a surprise drop in crude stockpiles.
Thursday, March 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Euro zone and UK leave interest rates unchanged

The European Central Bank (ECB) kept interest rates unchanged at 4% on Thursday as concerns about inflation persist. Earlier in London the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee adopted a similar decision keeping interest rates on hold at 5.25%.
Wednesday, March 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Metals war: Billiton after 55 billion loan to bid for Rio Tinto

Mining giant BHP Billiton is talking to an important group of banks for a record 55 billion US dollars loan to back its hostile bid for rival Rio Tinto, it was revealed on Tuesday by banking sources.
Wednesday, March 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Falkland Islands Holdings plc acquisition of Momart

Falkland Islands Holdings PLC (FIH) said it has acquired art logistics and storage company Momart International Ltd for £10.27 million, of which £ 7.78 million is payable in cash and the remaining through the issue of 582,666 shares.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US housing decline costs UK's main bank 17.2 billion dollars

HSBC, the UK's largest bank, has said it has made a 17.2 billion US dollar loss after the decline in the US housing market hit the value of its loans. However annual profits still rose 10% to 24.2 billion, up from 22.08 billion the year before.