International

• Monday, April 9th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's expands project to cut Argentine gas dependence

  Chile could be one step closer to securing its energy supply if a new 800 million US dollars liquid natural gas (LNG) plant receives government approval. The Quintero plant (Region V) was initially designed with a capacity for 5.7 million cubic meter NLG, but has now been expanded to a 10 million cubic meters.

• Monday, April 9th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  US takes China to WTO and paves way for more demands

  

  United States on Monday dramatically sharpened trade tensions with China by launching a wide-ranging World Trade Organization complaint over copyright piracy and claims that Beijing restricts the distribution of foreign music, films and books.

• Monday, April 9th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  New attempt, this time in India, to end Doha Round deadlock

  

  Four leading trade powers will meet Wednesday in New Delhi, India for two days of potentially make-or-break talks to end a deadlock in the Doha Round of global trade negotiations.

• Sunday, April 8th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  China's plan to tackle industrial and farmland pollution

  Six thousand of China's top industrial polluters will be under closer scrutiny by the country's top environmental watchdog. The list, published on the website of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), includes well-known companies and factories, reports “China Daily”.

• Sunday, April 8th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Greek cruise captain blames disaster on “strong currents”

  The Greek captain of the cruise vessel “Sea Diamond” which sank last Friday, speaking on Sunday to government run Greek television denied responsibility for the incident and blamed strong sea currents for the disaster.

• Saturday, April 7th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Sunken Greek cruise ship's skipper arraigned; two passengers still missing

  

  The captain of a Greek cruise ship that sank in the Aegean Sea was due to appear before a prosecutor on Saturday as coastguards continued to search for two missing French tourists, the Greek merchant marine ministry said.

• Friday, April 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Sinking cruise ship evacuated off Greece

  

  A listing cruise ship carrying nearly 1,600 people was evacuated safely Thursday after it struck rocks and began taking on water off the Greek island of Santorini, authorities said.

• Friday, April 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Pope commences annual Holy Week ceremonies

  

  Pope Benedict XVI bathed the feet of 12 laymen at a Rome basilica in a Holy Thursday tradition symbolizing humility, as he kept up an intense schedule of public ceremonies that will culminate on Easter.

• Thursday, April 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Global Warming Threatens Natural Wonders

  An environmental group said Thursday some of the world's greatest natural treasures are threatened with destruction because of global warming - from the Great Barrier Reef to the Amazon rain forests and the unique ecosystem of the Mexican desert.

• Tuesday, April 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Possible weather pattern changes as El Niño becomes La Niña

  

  The most recent El Niño, the periodic weather pattern that can have repercussions around the world from torrential rains and floods in the Americas and Africa to droughts and brush fires in Australia and Asia, has now ended and a transition to its mirror image, La Niña, is a substantial possibility, according to the latest United Nations forecast.