International

Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Russian oil giant Lukoil targets Spain's Respsol-YPF

Spanish savings bank La Caixa may sell its 14% stake in struggling Spanish-Argentine energy firm Repsol to Russian firm Lukoil, it said. The sale is tied to the acquisition by Lukoil of a 20% stake held in Repsol by construction group Sacyr Vallehermoso.
Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
OECD 3Q GDP declined 0.1%, first time in 7 years

Gross domestic product (GDP) in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD area declined by 0.1% in the third quarter of 2008, the first fall in seven years, according to preliminary estimates.
Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China announces overhaul of dairy industry safety

China announced a complete overhaul of its dairy industry Thursday to improve safety at every step, from cow breeding to milk sales, admitting its worst food quality scandal in years had revealed “major problems” in quality control.
Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
RBS shareholders vote on £ 20 billion bail out plan

Shareholders in Royal Bank of Scotland are to vote on a £20 billion bail-out plan which could put nearly 60% of the company in public hands. RBS, one of the worst hit by the banking turmoil, has called a general meeting in Edinburgh to approve the rescue.
Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
CAP reform cuts subsidies, liberalizes dairy market

European Union farm ministers have agreed to reform agricultural policy by shifting more subsidies away from production and liberalising the dairy market. The deal on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy came on Thursday after marathon all-night talks.
Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
World economic confidence index falls to 20-year low

A world economic confidence index released Thursday dropped to its lowest level in 20 years amid further news of heavy losses on global markets and an ongoing crisis among the world's carmakers.
Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
FDA announces offices world wide; first in Beijing

The United States opened Wednesday a Food and Drug Administration office in Beijing, as the first step in an FDA strategy to try to improve food and drug safety standards around the world.
Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Japan, Australia meet to talk about whaling campaign

Japan and Australia say they will pursue diplomatic channels to resolve their long running dispute over whaling. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith met his Japanese counterpart, Hirofumi Nakasone in Peru, in anticipation of this weekend's APEC leaders meeting.
Thursday, November 20th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Pacific rim leaders meet in Lima for trade talks

The United States, China, Japan and some emerging economy heavyweights will push for quick action on free trade deals at a summit meeting this weekend as an antidote to a looming recession in much of the world.
Wednesday, November 19th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Unknown extinct yellow-eyed penguin identified in NZ

The discovery of a previously unknown and now extinct New Zealand penguin could be just one of many breakthroughs as scientists probe the secrets of ancient DNA. A study led by Otago University researchers set out to look at changes in the yellow-eyed penguin population after humans settled in New Zealand.