International

Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
M/V Marco Polo on her final South Atlantic cruise

She doesn't have the grandeur or the glamour of QE2 but Marco Polo had been on South Atlantic cruises for the last fifteen years and this week saw her final tour of the region. Bahamas flagged, the 22.000 tons old lady belonging to Norwegian Cruise Line/Orient Line from Miami is currently sailing along the coast of Brazil and should be arriving in Lisbon the first week of March.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Fearing inflation China tightens credit and absorbs liquidity

China's Central Bank cautioned it's ready to raise the interest rate as early as late March to check inflation, which may surge as high as 8.7% in the twelve months to February. As a consequence of the recent blizzards that destroyed crops, food prices this month could jump 6 to 7 percentage points over January.
Wednesday, February 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Quake shakes Britain, second largest since 1984

An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale shook England early on Wednesday morning.
Wednesday, February 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Half of the world population lives in urban areas says UN

By the end of this year, half of the world's 6.7 billion people will live in urban areas, according to a report unveiled by the United Nations on Tuesday, which also predicts that future growth of the world's urban population will be concentrated in Asia and Africa.
Wednesday, February 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
“OPEC should not lower output”, with current oil prices

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) should not interfere with production quotas at its meeting on March 5 if prices remain at their current levels, said Rilwanu Lukman, oil adviser to the President of Nigeria. Oil prices this week hovered in the range of 100 US dollars a barrel.
Tuesday, February 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Union of S. American Nations ready for launching

The presidential summit for the launching of the Union of South American nations, Unasur, will take place March 28/29 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, said Colombian Foreign Affairs minister Fernando Araujo.
Tuesday, February 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Krill live deep in Antarctic waters, study discovers

Scientists have discovered Antarctic krill living and feeding at crushing depths of 3,000 metres in waters around the Antarctic Peninsula, a study says.
Tuesday, February 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Japan whaling fleet high tech bug-tracked by protestors

Anti-whaling activists said on Monday they had chased the flagship of Japan's whaling fleet Yushin Maru 2 out of waters near Antarctica after tracking it with high-tech bugs planted by two protesters who boarded the vessel last month.
Tuesday, February 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Wheat prices soar on export restrictions and short supply

Wheat prices have hit a record level of 12 US dollars a bushel as supplies dwindle, raising concerns about growing food inflation. Investors fear that a shortage of high quality milling wheat will keep prices high for the cereal used in bread, pasta and other foods.
Tuesday, February 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US recession fears see dollar collapse to 1.50 per Euro

The US dollar has fallen to a fresh record low against the Euro, after weak economic data renewed fears that the US economy may be facing a more serious recession than anticipated.