International

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.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN urges C 24 decolonization advance process

All over the world, hundreds of millions of people had exercised their right to self-determination and achieved self-government, and facilitating that process was “one of the proudest chapters of our Organization's history” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last week as he opened the current session of the Special Committee on decolonisation, the so called C24 (according to official UN reports).
Sunday, March 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK government pledges crackdown on plastic bags

The agency in charge of UK government marketing announced this week that it would stop buying plastic bags for use in promotional campaigns. The announcement followed the publication of figures in The Guardian showing that the government bought nearly 1million plastic bags last year for promotion and marketing purposes.
Saturday, March 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Euro zone inflation marks an all time annual high in Jan

Hikes in fuel and heating oil prices pushed the Euro zone 12 months rate of inflation to an all-time high in January, but a sharper than expected drop in core inflation added weight to the view that it will fall back closer to the European Central Bank's 2% target ceiling later this year.
Saturday, March 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Charles and Wills to welcome Harry from Afghanistan

The Prince of Wales and Prince William will greet Prince Harry on his return from Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence confirmed.
Friday, February 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Sovereign investment funds warn about increased regulations

The head of one of the Middle East's best-known investment funds has warned against any European Union (EU) moves to increase their regulation. State-run investment vehicles, Chinese and Middle East sovereign wealth funds have recently bought stakes in a number of Western banks and other businesses.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
German banker freezes Euro rate cut expectations

German Bank Governing president Axel Weber warned on Wednesday that the market's consensus on interest rate expectations in the Euro zone “clearly underestimates” inflation risks and does not match the assessment of a central bank that holds price stability as its main goal.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Talks for an OPEC gas cartel advancing announces Iran

Algeria, Iran, Qatar, and Russia are holding consultations on the creation of an OPEC-like gas cartel, with the structure of the organization being the main topic on the agenda, said Iranian Ambassador to Russia Gholmreza Ansari.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Antarctic cruise on ocean/atmosphere gases interaction

More than 30 scientists from all over the world embarked this week from the extreme south of Chile on a research mission to the Southern Ocean. Researchers will battle the elements to study how gases important to climate change move between the atmosphere and the ocean under high winds and seas.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Searching in Africa clues to Antarctica's “deep freeze”

Welsh academics believe they have found a vital key to the climate switch, explaining why Antarctica went into a “deep freeze” 34 million years ago. The team of scientists from Cardiff University and National Museum Wales has been studying ice sheet formation in the frozen continent, reports ICWales.