International

Thursday, March 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
OPEC freezes oil output and blames US for high crude prices

OPEC accused the United States on Wednesday of economic “mismanagement”, which it said is pushing oil prices to new record highs and rejected calls to increase output. Oil prices surged for the first time past 104 US dollars a barrel after OPEC's announcement and a US government release showing a surprise drop in crude stockpiles.
Thursday, March 6th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Euro zone and UK leave interest rates unchanged

The European Central Bank (ECB) kept interest rates unchanged at 4% on Thursday as concerns about inflation persist. Earlier in London the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee adopted a similar decision keeping interest rates on hold at 5.25%.
Wednesday, March 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Metals war: Billiton after 55 billion loan to bid for Rio Tinto

Mining giant BHP Billiton is talking to an important group of banks for a record 55 billion US dollars loan to back its hostile bid for rival Rio Tinto, it was revealed on Tuesday by banking sources.
Wednesday, March 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Falkland Islands Holdings plc acquisition of Momart

Falkland Islands Holdings PLC (FIH) said it has acquired art logistics and storage company Momart International Ltd for £10.27 million, of which £ 7.78 million is payable in cash and the remaining through the issue of 582,666 shares.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US housing decline costs UK's main bank 17.2 billion dollars

HSBC, the UK's largest bank, has said it has made a 17.2 billion US dollar loss after the decline in the US housing market hit the value of its loans. However annual profits still rose 10% to 24.2 billion, up from 22.08 billion the year before.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN urges C 24 decolonization advance process

All over the world, hundreds of millions of people had exercised their right to self-determination and achieved self-government, and facilitating that process was “one of the proudest chapters of our Organization's history” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last week as he opened the current session of the Special Committee on decolonisation, the so called C24 (according to official UN reports).
Sunday, March 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK government pledges crackdown on plastic bags

The agency in charge of UK government marketing announced this week that it would stop buying plastic bags for use in promotional campaigns. The announcement followed the publication of figures in The Guardian showing that the government bought nearly 1million plastic bags last year for promotion and marketing purposes.
Saturday, March 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Euro zone inflation marks an all time annual high in Jan

Hikes in fuel and heating oil prices pushed the Euro zone 12 months rate of inflation to an all-time high in January, but a sharper than expected drop in core inflation added weight to the view that it will fall back closer to the European Central Bank's 2% target ceiling later this year.
Saturday, March 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Charles and Wills to welcome Harry from Afghanistan

The Prince of Wales and Prince William will greet Prince Harry on his return from Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence confirmed.
Friday, February 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Sovereign investment funds warn about increased regulations

The head of one of the Middle East's best-known investment funds has warned against any European Union (EU) moves to increase their regulation. State-run investment vehicles, Chinese and Middle East sovereign wealth funds have recently bought stakes in a number of Western banks and other businesses.