International

Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Sir Alan Walters, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's personal economic advisor, dies aged 82

Professor Sir Alan Walters, former personal economic advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and credited with being an architect of the 1980's renaissance of the economy of the United Kingdom, died peacefully at home on Saturday at the age of 82.
Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Japan's Toyota to halt production 11 days in its 12 factories

Toyota is to halt production at all 12 of its Japanese factories for 11 days in February and March as it tries to reduce its stock of unsold cars. It had already announced a three-day halt for January, but before that it had not cut production since 1993, when it did so for one day.
Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
With inflation under control, Euro rates cut forecasted

The Euro has slipped against the pound and the dollar as expectations rise that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates again on 15 January.
Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Britain's house prices fell a record 15.9% during 2008

Britain's biggest building society has said house prices fell by a record 15.9% during 2008 as it warned the property market was in for another turbulent year. Nationwide said prices were likely to have further to fall before significant numbers of buyers returned to the market, although it stopped short of making a specific forecast for price drops in 2009.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Japan calls for no re-fueling of whaling activists' vessels

Japanese whalers are pressing for Australian and New Zealand authorities to refuse port entry to Sea Shepherd anti-whaling activists “terrorist ship” when they return from the Antarctic to refuel.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
IMF considers UK Chancellor Darling's forecast “optimistic”

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer prediction on when the UK economy could start to recover may be “optimistic”, a director of the International Monetary Fund has said.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Sir Alan Walters: “radical, fearless, the finest of friends”

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's influential economics adviser, Sir Alan Walters, has died aged 82. Sir Alan's return as an adviser led in 1989 to the resignation of Chancellor Nigel Lawson, with whom he had clashed over the exchange rate mechanism (ERM).
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Doha hangover: Lamy unopposed for his second WTO mandate

The current director-general of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy, is the only candidate for the position. He was the only candidate when nominations closed on 31 December.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Record rice crop and stabilized prices for 2009

The world can expect another record crop of rice totalling 640 million tons, equivalent to 434 million tons of the elaborate grain, according to a report from Uruguay's Rice Planters association.
Thursday, January 1st 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Pope Says Global Crisis a Test for Future

Pope Benedict marked World Day for Peace and the feast of Mary Mother of God Thursday appealing for a reworking of the global financial system and a spiritual and moral revolution that puts solidarity for the poor in pride of place.