International

Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Renegade spy who devoted life to expose CIA dies in Cuba

Philip Agee, the former CIA operative who broke with the agency and devoted his life to exposing its role in political subversion, assassination, torture and support for military dictatorships, died January 7 in Cuba at the age of 72. Cuban sources said that he died of peritonitis after ulcer surgery.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Goldman Sachs predicts US recession and China slowdown

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., one of the world's leading investment banking and investment management firms lowered its forecast for China's 2008 GDP growth to 10% from 10.3%, due to an expected 2008 recession in the U.S.
Sunday, January 13th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Australians arrive in NZ by kayak after 62 days

Two Australians have become the first people to paddle to New Zealand across the Tasman Sea in a kayak.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Euro and UK keep rates on hold; stern bankers' message

The European Central Bank and Bank of England, despite growing unease about inflation and slowing economic indicators, on Thursday kept their benchmark interest rates unchanged at 4% and 5.5% respectively.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
China's trade surplus & reserves soar to record highs in 2007

China's trade surplus soared 48% in 2007 to a record high 262.2 billion US dollars as its export-led economic boom continued government figures have shown.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Nepal/NZ mourn loss of Mount Everest colossus conqueror

Nepal, the country of Mount Everest, has been remembering Sir Edmund Hillary, the joint first conqueror of the summit. Sir Edmund died in his native New Zealand, aged 88, after a heart attack.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Ulster farmer returns £ 5.900 cash in overpaid subsidies

An anonymous Northern Ireland farmer has sent an envelope containing £5,900 of cash to the Department of Agriculture (DARD). The money was returned in an envelope because he or she felt they were overpaid in their subsidies, reports the BBC
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UN economic report warns of global standstill in 2008

Following on a robust 2007, the United Nations Conference On Trade and Development says there is a clear danger of the world economy coming to a near standstill in 2008. The report says this will hit many poor nations hard, slow world trade and put an end to the boom in commodity prices.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
South Korean breaks knocks out whale meat racket ring

Police have broken an illegal whale poaching racket, confiscating more than 50 tons of Minke meat in the largest seizure of its kind in South Korea, an official in Seoul said Saturday.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Japanese whalers warn Greenpeace pursuer activists

Japanese whalers have warned Greenpeace activists pursuing their fleet in the Southern Ocean against illegal and dangerous interference to the hunt. Greenpeace protest ship Esperanza has located the fleet of six ships conducting so-called scientific whaling and is pursuing the main vessel Nisshin Maru.