International

• Saturday, November 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Unemployment up and Nov. inflation plunges in Euro zone

  

  Unemployment in the European Union 15 nations that share the Euro shot up to 7.7% in October ? the highest level in two years ? as growth dropped sharply. Inflation on the other hand plunged to 2.1% in November as oil came down from the record prices of last July.

• Friday, November 28th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  UK Treasury becoming main private banker

  

  British taxpayers will take a 57.9% stake in Royal Bank of Scotland after investors snubbed its £15 billion share offer, the bank said on Friday. RBS existing shareholders refused to buy the new stock because the bank's shares were trading below the 65.5p offer price announced in October.

• Friday, November 28th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Outrage in UK over arrest, office search of shadow minister

  

  Britain's political system reacted with outrage to the arrest of shadow Immigration minister Damian Green and the search of his home by the police. Liberal Democrats have called the arrest a “mayday warning” for democracy amid cross-party anger over the move.

• Friday, November 28th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Spain launches stimulus plan to create 300.000 jobs

  Spain has launched an 11 billion Euro plan aimed at boosting the economy and creating 300,000 jobs. The plan, which represents 1.1% of Spain's GDP is part of the European Union's 200 billion Euro stimulus announced on Wednesday.

• Thursday, November 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  G20 summit in London next April with President Obama

  

  The next summit of the Group of 20 countries on the global economic crisis will be held in London on April 2 next year, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on Wednesday. It will also be Barack Obama first visit to London as the new US president.

• Thursday, November 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  China admits concern with unemployment and social unrest

  The slowdown of China's economy is gathering force as the global financial crisis spreads, anticipating rising unemployment and social unrest, admitted the country's top planner. The non written understanding of Chinese communist party supremacy in exchange for sustained growth has begun to sputter.

• Thursday, November 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Slumping oil prices deepen rift among OPEC members

  

  Slumping oil prices are beginning to bite into the government budgets of many OPEC members generating different opinions regarding supply and price policies, according to the latest report from an oil energy investment dealer based in Calgary, Canada's oil capital.

• Thursday, November 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Cuba, Argentina, Peru, main Latam debtors of Paris Club

  

  The Paris Club of creditor nations disclosed this week for the first time ever how much it is owed world wide, --330 billion US dollars--, with Cuba, Argentina and Peru top of the list in Latinamerica.

• Thursday, November 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  UK will sign Cluster Munitions Convention Monday in Oslo

  

  A three-year extension to the United Kingdom de-mining program, which will continue vital work to reduce the number of casualties caused by land mines and cluster munitions across the globe, was announced by International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander

• Wednesday, November 26th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Russia reopens meat market to Argentina, closes Australia

  Russia has re-opened its market for meat products from an Argentine and a Paraguayan company and banned such imports from five Australian companies, the veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement.