International

Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
IMF needs another 150 billion to aid emerging markets

The International Monetary Funds may need up to 150 billion US dollars in additional funds to assist emerging markets and poorer countries suffering through the intensifying global economic slump, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said.
Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Boiling kettles, Google search and carbon dioxide

Two search requests on the internet website Google produce “as much carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle”, according to a Harvard University academic. US physicist Alex Wissner-Gross claims that a typical Google search on a desktop computer produces about 7g CO2.
Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Pesticides and chemicals ban controversy in the EU

The European Parliament has voted to tighten rules on pesticide use and ban at least 22 chemicals deemed harmful to human health. The UK government, the Conservatives and the National Farmers' Union all oppose the new rules, saying they could hit yields and increase food prices. The rules have not yet been approved by the 27 member states' governments.
Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Spain's recession hits remittances from immigrants

Immigrants' remittances from Spain to home countries totalled 1.95 billion Euros in the first three quarters of 2008, down 7% from the same period a year ago, reported the Banco de España.
Sunday, January 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Successful trial in Antarctica of super pressure balloon

NASA and the National Science Foundation have successfully launched and demonstrated over Antarctica a newly designed super pressure balloon prototype that may enable a new era of high-altitude scientific research. The super-pressure balloon ultimately will carry large scientific experiments to the brink of space for 100 days or more.
Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UN calls on Israel for immediate media access to Gaza

The chief of communications and public information for the United Nations called Thursday on the Israeli Government to ensure immediate access for international media into Gaza, stressing the need for “full and independent” coverage of events unfolding in the territory which has been the target of an Israeli offensive launched nearly two weeks ago.
Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Spain: unemployment is record; more to come admits minister

The number of registered jobless in Spain topped 3 million for the first time ever in December and the government said unemployment would worsen in 2009 as the global economic crisis continues to wreak havoc on the country's construction and tourism industries.
Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK expedition to study hot water vents in Antarctica

United Kingdom scientists are set to be the first to investigate in detail the creatures living around hot water vents surrounding Antarctica. The team is scheduled to join the British Antarctic Survey's research ship the RRS James Clark Ross in Puenta Arenas, Chile.
Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
“Ponzi” Madoff fraud investigation extends to UK

An investigation has been launched into the British activities of alleged multi-billion-pound fraudster Bernard “Ponzi” Madoff. UK officials will focus on investors who lost huge sums when Madoff's financial business collapsed, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said.
Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Euro zone officially in recession, first since founded in 1999

The Euro zone economy entered its first official recession in the third quarter, EU data confirmed in a third reading on Thursday. The bloc's combined economy shrank by 0.2% in the third quarter after contracting by the same amount in the second quarter, the Eurostat data agency said.