International

Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Congo and rebels enter UN backed talks to end fighting

United Nations-backed talks between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a main rebel militia kicked off Tuesday, in a bid to end the upsurge in the fighting which has uprooted an additional 250,000 people in country's far east.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UN: Sixty years on Human Rights still not a reality for all

The promises enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) remain unfilled for tens of millions of people worldwide, the top United Nations human rights official said on the eve of the December 10th landmark document's 60th anniversary.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Record low for UK £ vs the Euro as recession advances

The British pound has hit a record low against the Euro amid more economic gloom for the United Kingdom. At its low point one pound bought just under Euros 1.14, its weakest-ever showing against the single currency.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chinese exports drop 2.2% in November and imports 19.1%

China has reported a fall in exports for the first time in seven years as a result of the global economic downturn. Exports declined in November from the same period a year ago for the first time since June 2001, data show.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
IMF report exposed Spain's long term vulnerability

Spain could become stalled in protracted weak growth and high unemployment unless it undertakes reforms to raise productivity and cut costs, the International Monetary Fund said in a report published on Wednesday.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Host of Man vs. Wild series injured in Antarctic expedition

Adventurer and host of the popular Man vs Wild series Bear Grylls has injured his shoulder during an Antarctic expedition. According to CNN the 34-year-old former SAS soldier was being flown back to the UK to receive medical attention.
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.