International

Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Credit crunch and hunger in WB and IMF spring meetings

The Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank open this week amid rising concerns about the impact of the credit crunch on the global economy and uneven progress towards such human development goals as wiping out hunger and malnutrition.
Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Food prices could lead to increased unrest warns “as in Haiti”

The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) called Monday on donors to respond to the agency's appeal for additional funds to deliver lifesaving assistance, warning that the global surge in food prices could lead to further tensions such as those witnessed recently in Haiti and other countries.
Monday, April 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
New Zealand breaks ground signing free trade pact with China

New Zealand became on Monday the first developed nation to sign a free-trade agreement with China. Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, witnessed the signing of the pact in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Ben-Hur actor Charlton Heston dies at 84

Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing “Ben-Hur” and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s, has died. He was 84.
Sunday, April 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Wealthy China is good for the world, says Bill Gates

China's growing wealth is good for the world, and there will come a time when the influence of the United States shrinks to the level of its share of the world population, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said at a meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank, IDB in Miami.
Friday, April 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Heathrow “chaos” T5 cost B Airways loss of 2.8% pax in March

The London Heathrow airport Terminal 5 debacle hit British Airways' monthly passenger figures for March 2008. Despite the benefit of an early Easter, BA carried just fewer than 2.72 million passengers last month, a 2.8% dip on the March 2007 total according to reports in the British press.
Friday, April 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Antarctica tour operators meeting in Punta del Este

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, IAATA, will be holding its19th Annual General Meeting in Punta del Este, Uruguay from April 28 to May first. The changing industry and challenges, particularly environmental and safety will figure top of the agenda.
Thursday, April 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
World rice production forecasted to increase 1.8% in 2008

UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has predicted that world rice production is expected to rise by 12 million metric tonnes or 1.8% in 2008, assuming normal weather.
Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Sarkozy appeals directly to FARC for release of Betancourt

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has implored Colombia's rebel group FARC to free ailing hostage Ingrid Betancourt, saying she is in danger of dying. Mr Sarkozy has also announced a French mission to Colombia to try to get access to the hostage.
Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Latam air accident rate double world average claims IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on Monday for the Latin American aviation industry to redouble its efforts to drive down the accident rate in the region and better coordinate safety regulations.