International

Friday, December 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Lesson One: how do you say Panama Canal in Chinese?

Panama is moving to make the teaching of Mandarin compulsory in all schools, in recognition of China's growing importance in the world economy. The Panamanian National Assembly has given conditional approval to the bill in the first of three debates.
Friday, December 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
China's booming economy running out of spare capacity

China should let its currency rise faster to help it counter overheating in its booming economy, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development suggested in a report this week.
Friday, December 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
US Congress discusses rise in vehicle fuel efficiency

An energy bill that would require the first rise in vehicle fuel efficiency in more than 30 years was passed this week by the United States House of Representatives.
Friday, December 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Australia plans radical changes to fisheries management

Fishermen would make even more money than previously thought if they let depleted stocks rebuild, according to research from Australia and the United States. When fish are more plentiful it becomes easier and cheaper to catch them.
Thursday, December 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Inflation's political and social impact rattles Beijing

China said Wednesday it would tighten monetary policy in 2008 for the first time in a decade, as it battles to rein in a soaring stock market and an overheated economy. The shift from “prudent” to “tight” is a move analysts consider “significant”, but no major details to support the announcement were delivered.
Thursday, December 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Steve Irwin becomes battle name against Japanese whaling

A conservation group that has vowed to disrupt Japan's annual whale hunt launched its Antarctic campaign Wednesday by renaming one of its ships after “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, the late environmental campaigner.
Thursday, December 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Bank of England cuts rate to 5.5% on slow growth concern

The Bank of England announced Thursday a 25 points cut in the key interest rate from 5.75 to 5.5% following on fears of a slowing UK economy. The decision came as the BoE tried to strike a balance between rising inflation and further evidence that the housing boom is slowing and consumer confidence deteriorating.
Thursday, December 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
UN climate meeting working on pos Kyoto Protocol roadmap

Special negotiating groups created this week at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali are discussing the elements of a future roadmap for tackling the problem, technology transfer, deforestation and practical action on adaptation strategies for countries coping with adverse effects.
Wednesday, December 5th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
OPEC maintains oil output; quotas to new members

OPEC froze oil output levels on Wednesday, resisting calls for a hike to help cool sky-high prices that have flirted with 100 dollars and which threaten to dampen global economic growth.
Wednesday, December 5th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
English and skill tests for non EU immigrants to UK

Unskilled workers from countries outside the European Union will no longer be allowed to work in the UK under new immigration rules that the government says represent the “biggest change to the immigration system in its history”.