International

Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
WTO optimistic about Doha accord before 2008 is over

World Trade Organisation director general Pascal Lamy said it is still possible that trade ministers could meet this month to work out the outlines of an agreement in the Doha Round of world trade talks.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Colonialism has no place in today's world, says UN

Although decolonization has been one of the United Nations' great success stories, the fact that 16 non-self-governing Territories remains means that the task has yet to be completed, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said this week.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Barclays announces £1 billion write down and lower profits

Britain's Barclays has taken a further one billion sterling write-down on assets and confirmed profits for the first quarter of 2008 will be lower than last year. Last month, the bank warned that tough trading in its investment bank division Barclays Capital during March would cut group profits for the quarter.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US lists polar bears as threatened species, with a loophole

The United States has listed the polar bear as a threatened species, because its Arctic sea ice habitat is melting due to climate change. US government scientists predict that two-thirds of the polar bear population of 25,000 could disappear by 2050. However, the government stressed the listing would not lead to measures to prevent global warming.
Wednesday, May 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Tough competition and fuel prices knock Iberia red

Spanish airline Iberia reported a loss in the first quarter of the year compared with a 12.9 million Euro net profit last year. Soaring fuel prices and stiff competition forced the company to a loss of 441.000 Euros.
Tuesday, May 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
French banks take their toll from the subprime crisis

France's biggest retail bank Credit Agricole, is contemplating asking shareholders for an estimated 9.1 billion US dollars to help its financial position after further subprime losses. The move comes after more write-downs at its Calyon investment banking unit as a result of the credit squeeze.
Tuesday, May 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Heathrow T5 fiasco becomes managers mincing machine

The London Heathrow airport boss who oversaw the opening of Terminal 5 is to leave his job, the airport's owner has said. Mark Bullock had “chosen to leave” his job as the airport's managing director because of a change to management roles, according to Spanish-owned BAA.
Monday, May 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Ambitious agenda for EU/Latam summit with 53 leaders

Peru is hosting the fifth European Union/Latinamerica/Caribbean leaders' summit and has displayed 85.000 police and Armed Forces in the capital Lima, of which 6.000 in the immediate area where deliberations will take place. The event begins next Tuesday and concludes Friday with the leaders summit.
Monday, May 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
HSBC writes off U$S 3.2 billion, totaling 15.6 billion

Europe's biggest bank HSBC has written off 3.2 billion US dollars in the first three months of 2008 as a result of its exposure to the US sub-prime market. The write downs, which are lower than the total written off in the final quarter of 2007, are in line with what the bank had predicted.
Monday, May 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
World record rice production in 2008, but prices climbing

Rice production in Asia, Africa and Latin America will reach record highs in 2008, but prices could also continue to soar in the short term, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Monday.