International

Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Russia devalues rouble, and prepared “to address crisis”

Russia has devalued its currency, the rouble, for the third time this week and the seventh time this month. It takes it to its lowest value against the US dollar since January 2006.

The Russian currency has been hit by the price of oil, which is Russia's main export. Oil prices are more than 100 US dollars a barrel below their July peak.
Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Christmas celebration with Emma Darwin's Recipe Book

A cookbook based on notes by Charles Darwin's wife Emma, has been published in Britain, a fascinating testimony of Victorian times. Emma Darwin's Recipe Book features more than 40 dishes from her personal cookery notebook, which is housed in Cambridge University Library.
Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Industrial production in Japan drops record 8% in November

Official figures have revealed that Japanese manufacturing has dropped at its fastest rate on record, with companies closing factories and cutting jobs. Industrial output in Japan plummeted by a record 8% in November compared with the previous month.
Friday, December 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Vancouver, best place in the world to live; in Latam, Montevideo

Vancouver is the world's best place to live, a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has found. In Latinamerica Montevideo, Santiago and Buenos Aires are the most “liveable” although none of them offers ideal conditions.
Thursday, December 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Economic woes and insecurity underlined in Queen's message

Britain's economic problems and the “insecurity” people are feeling in today's uncertain times were acknowledged by the Queen in her Christmas Day message.
Thursday, December 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China's Yuan first steps to replace US dollar in Asian trade

China has said it is to allow some trade with its neighbours to be settled with its currency the Yuan. The pilot scheme was announced in a package of measures designed to help exporters hit by the global downturn.
Wednesday, December 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
British doctors warn of biggest flu outbreak in 8 years

The biggest flu outbreak for eight years could be on its way in the United Kingdom, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) warned after a 73% rise in people seeing their doctor with flu-like symptoms.
Wednesday, December 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UK economy shrank faster than expected during third quarter

The United Kingdom economy shrank faster between July and September than had previously been thought, official data showed. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it had contracted by 0.6% in the quarter - its previous estimate had been a contraction of 0.5%.
Wednesday, December 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Madonna's Sticky & Sweet nets a gross 280 million USD

Madonna's triumphant Sticky & Sweet has ended with 2,350,282 people attending and a gross of over 280 million US dollars in ticket sales for 58 concerts. Madonna performed in Europe, United States, Canada followed by Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Brazil where her last show was on December 21.
Wednesday, December 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Era of cheap gas is coming to an end warns Russia's Putin

The era of cheap gas is coming to an end, Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has told ministers from the world's major gas-exporting countries. Putin said the cost of extracting gas was rising sharply therefore “the era of cheap energy resources, of cheap gas, is of course coming to an end”.