International

• Friday, June 12th 2009 - 17:36 UTC

  Global flu pandemic but no A/H1N1 vaccines until September

  

  The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Thursday a global flu pandemic after holding an emergency meeting. This means the influenza A/H1N1 virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.

• Friday, June 12th 2009 - 17:29 UTC

  Chinese imports in May dropped 25% and exports 26%

  

  Chinese exports dropped by a record amount in May as demand for its goods from the US and Europe slumped. Exports fell 26.4% from the same month earlier, more than February's previous record drop and imports declined by 25.2%.

• Thursday, June 11th 2009 - 11:10 UTC

  Brazil confirms purchase of 10 billion US dollars in IMF bonds

  

  Brazil will buy 10 billion US dollars of bonds issued by the International Monetary Fund to help the multilateral lender provide financing to countries hurt by the financial crisis, announced Finance Minister Guido Mantega.

• Thursday, June 11th 2009 - 10:12 UTC

  Spain warns about “delisting” and “colonialism by consent” at C24

  

  The Spanish Government made a short but sharp intervention at the start of United Nations C24 session stating Spain's “firm wish to renew conversations with the United Kingdom within the framework of the Brussels process”.

• Thursday, June 11th 2009 - 10:05 UTC

  Thomas Cook “completely ring-fenced” against bankruptcy

  

  Germany's Arcandor, which owns 52% of Thomas Cook, filed for bankruptcy protection after the German government rejected a request for loan guarantees.

• Thursday, June 11th 2009 - 10:01 UTC

  Shell settles lawsuit in Nigeria to help “reconciliation process”

  

  Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to settle a lawsuit accusing the firm of complicity in the executions of human rights activists in Nigeria for 15.5 million US dollars, revealed families of those killed. The settlement agreement came this week as the more than decade-long dispute was due to go to trial in a district court in New York.

• Thursday, June 11th 2009 - 06:36 UTC

  MPs expenses: independent regulator and aired in internet

  

  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has set out plans for urgent legislative action to clean up Parliament in the wake of the expenses scandal. Brown said new legislation will be published before MPs rise for their summer break to create an independent regulator of Parliament and a code of conduct for MPs' behaviour.

• Thursday, June 11th 2009 - 06:21 UTC

  Low inventories push crude to 71 USD, highest in seven months

  

  Crude prices continued to surge on Wednesday, rallying on the news that US inventories fell more than expected and Chevron confirmed a fire at its Nigerian oil facility. Light, sweet crude for July delivery jumped 1.32 dollars, 1.9%, to settle at 71.33 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest close in seven months.

• Wednesday, June 10th 2009 - 13:29 UTC

  Falklands set for ‘peaceful’ relationship with new FCO Overseas Territory official?

  

  The Falkland Islands may be set to have a more peaceful relationship with the new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Overseas Territories, than with the last.

• Wednesday, June 10th 2009 - 13:21 UTC

  Flight 447: Airlines rush to change Airbus speed sensors

  

  As Brazilian divers continue to recover bodies and remains of Air France Flight 447 wreckage, airlines worldwide are scrambling to replace plane speed sensors on a number of Airbus jets in the aftermath of the accident.