International

• Friday, June 22nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Desperate last minute talks to save Doha round trade talks

  

  Negotiations among four key World Trade Organisation (WTO) governments over a new global agreement collapsed Thursday with India and Brazil blaming US and European unwillingness to cut farm aid and import duties on commodities.

• Thursday, June 21st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  China fears strong Yuan could lead to unemployment

  China should let the Yuan appreciate at a faster rate to reduce the country's dependency on exports and thus prevent a possible assets bubble because of the easy access to credit, said an outstanding economist former advisor to the country's Central Bank.

• Wednesday, June 20th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Investors flocking to renewable energy technology

  

  Climate change worries coupled with high oil prices and increasing government support are fuelling soaring rates of investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released this week.

• Tuesday, June 19th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF warns about fiscal deficits and price controls systems

  The International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo Rato warned about the risks for Latinamerica of “populist” economic measures which worsen fiscal deficits, or price controls and manipulation of exchange rates.

• Monday, June 18th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  QE2 “retires” to Dubai's world wonder Palm Jumeirah

  

  Cunard liner QE2 is to cease ocean cruises and become a luxury floating hotel. The 70,000-ton vessel, launched by the Queen Elizabeth in 1967 and which carried millions across the Atlantic, is to be sold to the Dubai World company in an estimated 100 million US dollars deal.

• Monday, June 18th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Moscow and London, most expensive cities in the world

  

  Moscow is the world's most expensive city for expatriates for the second consecutive year, according to the latest Cost of Living Survey from Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Asuncion, Paraguay is the least expensive city for the fifth year running.

• Sunday, June 17th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  OPEC argues world oil stocks “remain at comfortable levels”

  The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC continues to monitor global oil markets and is prepared to help mitigate any tightness but the level of 30 million barrels a day ensures that commercial oil stocks remain at comfortable levels for the time being, said OPEC's Secretary General in Vienna.

• Sunday, June 17th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Endangered species forum dominated by budget row

  A budget row dominated the final day of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) forum held in The Hague, reports the BBC. Member states approved a cut in real terms in CITES' budget, which could compromise attempts to control the illegal wildlife trade.

• Sunday, June 17th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  “Landmark entry” into force of global health regulations

  The United Nations health agency announced the “landmark” entry into force this week of a set of regulations aimed at making the world more secure from threats to global health, while minimizing disruption to travel, trade and economies.

• Thursday, June 14th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  In Chile it's 14 times better to be an executive than a worker

  

  A recent study by the Mercer Human Resource Consulting (MHRC) group found that the average executive salary in Chile is 14 times greater than the average worker paycheck.