International

Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
United Nations launches new radiation warning symbol

A skull and crossbones, a running person and radiating ionizing waves, all on a deep red triangle, joined other more common warning symbols today as part of a United Nations effort to reduce needless deaths and serious injuries from accidental exposure to large radioactive sources such as food irradiation and cancer therapy equipment.
Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
US trade deficit in 2006 remained at 5.8% of GDP

The United States trade deficit rose 6.5% last year reaching a new record high of 763.6 billion US dollars reported Tuesday the US Department of Commerce.
Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
British, Hungarian bird flu outbreaks linked

Tests on H5N1 bird flu viruses found in Britain and Hungary showed they were genetically almost identical and the most likely transmission route was from poultry to poultry, Britain said yesterday.
Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Bank of England hits of new interest rates rise

The Bank of England has hinted that it is likely that interest rates will need to be increased once more to keep inflation in check, although analysts do not expect any rise to be imminent.
The Bank's latest inflation report forecasts that consumer price inflation would continue to exceed the 2% target if rates stayed at 5.25%.
Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Strong stock markets reactions to Fed's forecasts

Stock markets in New York and most of Latinamerica set new record gains on Wednesday following US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke statements that the US economy should grow modestly in 2007 despite a slowdown in housing.
Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Where do rich countries' children fare worse? US & UK

United States and Britain ranked at the bottom of a U.N. survey of child welfare in 21 wealthy countries that assessed everything from infant mortality to whether children ate dinner with their parents or were bullied at school.
Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Nisshin Maru Japanese whaling ship catches fire

Japanese whaling ship has caught fire near Antarctica, leaving one crew member missing and raising fears of environmental damage.
Tuesday, February 13th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Oil production costs rise 53%

The cost of producing oil and gas has risen about 53 percent in the past two years, and the trend is expected to continue this year, according to a report released yesterday.
Tuesday, February 13th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Shipowners order US$105.5B of new vessels in 2006

According to London-based Clarkson, the world's biggest shipbroker, shipowners ordered new vessels worth a record US$105.5 billion in 2006. The trend has been spurred by tanker owners keen to upgrade their fleets ahead of IMO single-hull tanker deadlines that kick in at the end of the decade, according to an article published by Gulf News.
Tuesday, February 13th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Eurozone growth surprises all 2006 forecasts: 2.7%

Eurozone growth ended 2006 strongly, thanks to better-than-expected growth in Germany and recovery in Italy. Gross domestic product across the 13 countries that use the euro grew 0.9% between October and December, compared with the previous three months.