International

• Wednesday, April 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Rice prices soar on fears Thailand could ban exports

  Rice prices have ballooned to fresh heights in Asian trade amid concern that export bans by key producing countries will hit supply. Curbs are in place in India and Vietnam to protect domestic supply and there are fears that Thailand, the world's largest producer, could follow suit.

• Tuesday, April 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  UK £ 50 billion plan to help financial system

  British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling supported on Monday the Bank of England's £50bn plan to help prevent the credit crisis causing more damage to the UK banking system.

• Tuesday, April 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Oil producing countries fear bio-fuels competition

  Saudi Arabia admitted that petroleum producing countries are concerned with the competition of alternative fuels, such as bio-fuels and with the determination of many countries to ensure their “energy independence”.

• Tuesday, April 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  “Silent tsunami” threatens 100 million people with hunger

  The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) called for urgent action to tackle the “silent tsunami” of rising food prices which threatens to push more than 100 million people worldwide into hunger.

• Tuesday, April 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's energy bill forecasted to increase 2.8 billion US dollars

  With the international price of oil closing on 120 US dollars a barrel and the need for greater purchases of oil, diesel fuel and natural gas, Chile estimates the additional cost this year in 2.8 billion US dollars according to the government owned oil corporation ENAP, CEO Enrique Davila.

• Tuesday, April 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  OPEC to boost production 5 million bpd …by 2012

  The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC plans to boost its oil production target capacity by 5 million barrels a day by 2012, the organization's secretary-general said Tuesday in Rome.

• Monday, April 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Singapore warns of worst world recession in 30 years

  

  Singapore's GIC, one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds, warned on Monday the world could be facing its worst recession in 30 years and that financial markets would be highly volatile.

• Monday, April 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Company reveals treasure comes from Spanish galleon

  

  After months of secrecy and under pressure from Spain, Odyssey Marine Exploration has finally named the wreck from which it recovered a haul of valuable treasure last year operating from Gibraltar.

• Monday, April 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  IEA: world's energy economy is not on sustainable path

  

  “With oil prices surging over 110 US dollars a barrel and growing concerns over the environmental repercussions of the world's spiraling energy demand, the dialogue between energy producing and consuming countries is more meaningful than ever”, said Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

• Sunday, April 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Lorca to return to Chile as PSV clinch championship for the 21st time

  

  Chilean international Juan Lorca will return to Colo Colo as Vitesse Arnhem can not afford to buy the player for the reported €2 millions (euros) that the Chilean club are asking. Lorca's one year loan deal has expired and although he would like to stay in Holland no other club has indicated their intention to sign him.