International

Sunday, January 13th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Australians arrive in NZ by kayak after 62 days

Two Australians have become the first people to paddle to New Zealand across the Tasman Sea in a kayak.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Euro and UK keep rates on hold; stern bankers' message

The European Central Bank and Bank of England, despite growing unease about inflation and slowing economic indicators, on Thursday kept their benchmark interest rates unchanged at 4% and 5.5% respectively.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China's trade surplus & reserves soar to record highs in 2007

China's trade surplus soared 48% in 2007 to a record high 262.2 billion US dollars as its export-led economic boom continued government figures have shown.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Nepal/NZ mourn loss of Mount Everest colossus conqueror

Nepal, the country of Mount Everest, has been remembering Sir Edmund Hillary, the joint first conqueror of the summit. Sir Edmund died in his native New Zealand, aged 88, after a heart attack.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Ulster farmer returns £ 5.900 cash in overpaid subsidies

An anonymous Northern Ireland farmer has sent an envelope containing £5,900 of cash to the Department of Agriculture (DARD). The money was returned in an envelope because he or she felt they were overpaid in their subsidies, reports the BBC
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UN economic report warns of global standstill in 2008

Following on a robust 2007, the United Nations Conference On Trade and Development says there is a clear danger of the world economy coming to a near standstill in 2008. The report says this will hit many poor nations hard, slow world trade and put an end to the boom in commodity prices.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
South Korean breaks knocks out whale meat racket ring

Police have broken an illegal whale poaching racket, confiscating more than 50 tons of Minke meat in the largest seizure of its kind in South Korea, an official in Seoul said Saturday.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Japanese whalers warn Greenpeace pursuer activists

Japanese whalers have warned Greenpeace activists pursuing their fleet in the Southern Ocean against illegal and dangerous interference to the hunt. Greenpeace protest ship Esperanza has located the fleet of six ships conducting so-called scientific whaling and is pursuing the main vessel Nisshin Maru.
Thursday, January 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
“Smaller China and India” makes IMF lower 2007 global growth

The International Monetary Fund said this week it had lowered its 2007 global growth estimate by one-half percentage point after recent data showed economies of China and India were smaller than previously thought.
Thursday, January 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China to freeze basics and energy ahead of Lunar New Year

China will introduce partial price freezes on basic commodities such as gas and oil and crack down on profiteering, hoarding and other activities fuelling inflation, the government announced on Wednesday. Government officials are concerned about prices next month when the Lunar New Year celebrations.