International

• Saturday, March 21st 2009 - 09:08 UTC

  G-20 members agree on banking regulation and loans to IMF

  

  G-20 nations have agreed to develop principles to regulate the banking sector and to make 100 billion US dollars in loans available to the International Monetary Fund to support the developing world according to British government sources.

• Friday, March 20th 2009 - 10:11 UTC

  IMF calls on G20 to bolster demand and more concerted policies

  

  Despite major stimulus packages announced by advanced economies and several emerging markets, trade volumes have shrunk rapidly, while production and employment data suggest that global activity continues to contract in the first quarter of 2009, the IMF said in a new assessment of the global economy.

• Friday, March 20th 2009 - 06:58 UTC

  Uruguayan president travels to China to boost trade and investment

  

  Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez together with several ministers and a delegation of 70 businessmen left Friday for an official state visit to China. The party arrives Saturday in Beijing but the official program begins Monday when President Vazquez will be received by this Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.

• Friday, March 20th 2009 - 06:57 UTC

  UN blames surging food prices on large-scale speculation

  

  Both the surging food prices from 2007 to 2008 and their subsequent drop in some areas are a result of large-scale speculation by financial investors, according to a new report by the United Nations trade body, which called for greater regulation to protect millions of poor people worldwide.

• Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 16:34 UTC

  UN pushes for ratification of global pact outlawing cluster bombs

  

  The pace of the ratification of a global pact outlawing cluster bombs must be accelerated to relegate the deadly weapons “to the pages of history,” Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said Wednesday.

• Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 16:30 UTC

  World Bank forecasts China to expand 6.5% in 2009

  

  The World Bank estimates China's gross domestic product for 2009 will be 6.5%, falling short of China's own prediction of 8% growth for the year. Still, the World Bank says China's economy is holding up relatively well and it sees plenty of room for the government to implement effective stimulus measures.

• Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 16:22 UTC

  Saudis warn of “catastrophic” oil supply crunch in near future

  

  Saudi Arabia's oil minister Ali al-Naimi warned Wednesday of a possible “catastrophic” energy supply crunch without prompt investment. The minister said the ideal price for oil lies between 60 and 75 US dollars a barrel.

• Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 06:19 UTC

  UK jobless 2.03 million, worst since Labour took power in 1997

  

  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed “personal regret” for every person who loses their job - as unemployment surged above the two million mark for the first time in 12 years.

• Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 06:08 UTC

  Condoms essential to fight AIDS epidemics says UN

  

  With over 7,400 new HIV infections daily, comprehensive approaches – including condom use – are essential to stop the spread of the AIDS epidemic, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said Wednesday, warning that there is no “single magic bullet” for prevention.

• Wednesday, March 18th 2009 - 15:39 UTC

  Cruise industry expects 2009 to be weakest in five years

  

  Growth in the cruise travel industry in 2009 is forecast to be the weakest in five years as the recession holds down household spending and widespread job loss hurts operations of the major cruise lines. However the industry’s leaders remain upbeat.