International

• Saturday, October 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  IMF Emergency financing mechanism has 200 billion USD

  The International Monetary Fund, which has announced its readiness to act in support of nations hit by fallout from the global financial turmoil, is holding talks with several countries about possible new lending programs. According to an official release IMF has 200 billion US dollars ready for loans.

• Friday, October 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  EU-Asia summit in Beijing in spite of award to dissident

  In spite of strong lobbying from Beijing the European Parliament prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded to a Chinese human rights activist and political dissident.

• Friday, October 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Five years on, the EU and Cuba formally restore ties

  The European Union and Cuba have formally restored ties five years after the EU imposed diplomatic sanctions on the island following mass arrests of dissidents.

• Friday, October 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Call for leadership and partnership on United Nations Day

  

  As the world contends with numerous crises, ranging from food insecurity and climate change to financial uncertainty and the development challenge, leadership and partnership are more important than ever to tackle today's most pressing issues, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message marking United Nations Day.

• Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Asbestos on watch list of hazardous substances says FAO

  

  Ministers and officials will decide whether to add three hazardous chemicals – including the world's most widely used form of asbestos – to a trade “watch list” under a United Nations-backed treaty, aimed at helping developing countries more effectively manage potentially harmful imported substances.

• Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Ban Ki-moon to discuss global crisis with economists

  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet with a group of eminent economists tomorrow as part of his evaluation of the impact of the global financial crisis on United Nations efforts to achieve the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

• Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Oil price at a 16-month low as energy demand contracts

  

  Oil prices tumbled on Wednesday to a 16-month low amid more evidence that the economic downturn was drying up energy demand. Light, sweet crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange - the benchmark price - settled at 66.75 US dollars, around five dollars lower than the day's high.

• Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  PM Brown admits the “r-word” is round the corner

  

  Prime Minister Gordon Brown finally admitted that Britain is likely to suffer a recession - hours after a similar warning from the Bank of England sent the value of the pound plunging to a five-year low.

• Thursday, October 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazilian football super star Pelé joins the cruise industry

  

  On June 28, 2009, the flagship of the Costa fleet will sail the first cruise dedicated to “O' Rey”, the King of world football Pelé. He will be joined by some of Europe's best footballers of the 20th century, presidents of football federations, confederations and clubs, plus great Brazilian performers like Toquinho and Alexandre Pires.

• Wednesday, October 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  UN preparing map of underground fresh water resources

  

  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO will publish the first-ever world map of underground aquifers, which account for some 96 per cent of global freshwater resources, the agency announced in a press release today.