International

Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
World Bank predicts oil at 75 USD and high food prices

The recent sharp declines in oil and food prices mark the end of what has been the most historic commodity price boom of the past century, says the World Bank in its report “Commodities at the crossroads”.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Global trade expected to contract for the first time since 1982

The World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2009 predicts that global GDP growth will slip from 2.5% in 2008 to 0.9% in 2009 and world trade will contract by 2.1% next year, something not seen since 1982. Developing country growth is expected to decline from a resilient 7.9% in 2007 to 4.5% in 2009 with growth in rich countries next year most likely negative.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
MPs committee to investigate Green's police incident

An influential committee of British MPs is to investigate the controversial arrest of Tory MP Damian Green, including the search of his office in Parliament, and politicians' involvement in the incident was announced on Tuesday.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Pirate scare: German cruise line flies pax over Gulf of Aden

A German cruise liner announced Tuesday it plans to fly its passengers over the Gulf of Aden, instead of sailing them through, out of fear of pirate attacks in the region.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chinese steelmakers demand 82% cut in iron ore prices

China the world's largest steel producer is seeking iron ore suppliers cut prices to meet the falling international price of steel which has dropped to 1994 levels, according to an official with China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), reports China's official news agency Xinhua.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China's annual fish farm production: 48.9 million tons

China's fisheries industry expects to end the year with stable growth and fish farm production increasing 3% over the last twelve months, according to an official report released on Tuesday in Beijing from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
Monday, December 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Total Irish pork-products recall because of dioxins

A total pork-product recall from Ireland has been implemented after slaughterhouse tests confirmed high levels of a cancer-causing toxin in meat. The substance has come from contaminated feed and is a big blow to Ireland's domestic and export pig industry.
Monday, December 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
MP Green office raid: Commons Speaker increasingly exposed

Britain's Commons Speaker Michael Martin is looking increasingly exposed amid deepening dismay among MPs over his failure to stop the police raid on the Westminster office of Tory frontbencher Damian Green.
Monday, December 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
EU Human Rights Court ruling limits British DNA database

Nearly a million innocent British citizens could have their records removed from the national DNA database after a court ruled holding them breached their human rights. The European Court of Human Rights severely criticised police powers to take and hold samples from suspects even if they are released or cleared.
Monday, December 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Labour MPs more rebellious under Brown than with Blair

British Labour MPs rebelled on more occasions during Gordon Brown's first full parliamentary session as Prime Minister than during the whole of Tony Blair's first four-year term in office, a new report has shown.