International

Monday, February 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
G7 agree on downturn forecast but respect “economic diversity”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said in Tokyo that the global economy faces “downside risks” from the rout of capital markets that is “serious and persisting” but insisted he was convinced the US economy would continue to grow in 2008. At no time did he use the feared word “recession”.
Monday, February 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Germany, world's leading exporter for the fifth year

Germany was the world's leading exporter for the fifth year running in 2007, staving off a challenge from fast-growing China despite the impact of a strong Euro on its competitiveness. German exports reached 969 billion Euros, 1.4 trillion US dollars in 2007, up 8.5% from 2006, according to Germany's Federal Statistics Office in Weisbaden.
Monday, February 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Putin: Russia among the world's seven leading economies

Russia is among the seven leading economic powers of the world said Russian president Vladimiar giving his state of the nation address before the State Council for the last time. Putin did a recount of his eight years in office and set Russia's objectives for 2020.
Monday, February 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Yahoo Board Rejects Microsoft's $44.6 Billion Offer

Yahoo! Inc., owner of the second most used Internet search engine, rejected a $44.6 billion takeover offer from Microsoft Corp. as too low, pressuring the world's largest software maker to raise its bid.
Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Battle of giants for control of world's basic minerals

Rio Tinto, one of the world's largest mining firms rejected on Wednesday a sweetened mega merger bid from BHP Billiton worth 147 billion US dollars. If the two companies had merged, a company would have been created that controlled one third of the world's iron-ore market.
Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UK cuts rate to 5.25% but warns on inflation and slowdown

The Bank of England cut interest rates 0.25 percentage points to 5.25% amid signs that the UK economy is slowing down. Fears over rising prices and balancing growth and inflation made the Thursday cut relatively soft.
Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Drilling record: 7 miles extended-reach oil well off Russia

Exxon Mobil Corporation, the world's largest oil company recently broke its own industry record for the longest “extended-reach” oil well: more than seven miles from the frigid shores of Sakhalin Island off Russia's east coast.
Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Euro zone leaves rates unchanged at 4%; inflation priority

Fearing the risks to price stability over the medium term even when the economic fundamentals of the Euro area are sound, the European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council kept this Thursday interest rates unchanged at 4%.
Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Whale kill photos misleading, Japanese say

The Japanese body responsible for the annual whale kill in the Southern Ocean says the Australian media is using emotional propaganda to mislead the public.
Wednesday, February 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean diplomat head of WTO Dispute Settlement Body

The Chilean ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Mario Matus, has been chosen to head the organization's Dispute Settlement Body. Matus will replace Australian representative Bruce Gosper, who will preside over the WTO policy-making General Council for the next 12 months.