International
InternationalGiant “Terror Birds” Used Their Heads Like Hatchets
Phorusrhacids have been extinct for millions of years, yet the so-called terror birds just got a bit more frightening. The flightless birds stood up to three meters tall and had hook-beaked heads the size of horse heads. Now a new study has apparently deciphered how the birds used those fearsome skulls—employing a fighting style like that of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
China diversifying forex reserves to Asian currencies (South Korea and Japan)
China is increasingly looking to its Asian neighbours' currencies to lessen its reliance on the US dollar, both for investment and trade. Slowing the pace at which it amasses US Treasury papers, China has started buying more South Korean and Japanese government bonds.
Brazil overtakes Canada and Spain to become world’s eighth largest economy
Brazil has overtaken Canada and Spain to become the world’s eighth largest economy, relegating Spain to ninth place, Spanish newspaper Expansión reported Wednesday.
African coastal states organize network to tackle illegal fishing
Representatives from African coastal states attend a workshop in the United Kingdom designed to build capacity in tackling illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. IUU fishing is damaging to fish stocks, the marine environment, food security and wider economic growth and development.
Undercover-anglers stop slaughter of whales on Faroe Islands
As soon as pilot whales are sighted in the waters off the Faroe Islands the hunting frenzy takes hold of the about 48.000 inhabitants. Boats are launched and pods of whales are herded into the next official hunting bay.
Swiss win the “gruyere-war” certification over French cheese producers
French gruyere producers have given up trying to win the coveted appellation d'origine controlée (AOC) certification, ceding the official label to the Swiss. They had been planning to take the matter to the European Commission, but decided against the risk: if their demand for the label had been rejected, they would have lost the right to call their cheese gruyere at all.
Australian PM wants to cut ties with British monarchy and establish a republic
Australia should drop its ties to the British monarchy when the Queen’s reign ends, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said this week in the midst of national election campaigning.
Bank of England warns about high inflation; rate won’t drop to 2% until mid 2012
The Governor of the Bank of England warned of the dangers of ‘destructive’ high inflation after admitting his surprise that the rise in the UK cost of living continues to overshoot targets, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
China points out: second-largest economy but not second largest economic power
This week’s news that China had overtaken Japan to become the world's second-largest economy in the second quarter of this year made headlines around the world. The economic milestone was seen as a telling confirmation of the shifting balance of economic power in Asia, and as a culmination of China's stunning three-decade economic resurgence.
Wheat futures advance as Ukraine follows Russia and imposes export quota
Wheat futures advanced for the first time in four sessions in Chicago trading after Ukraine, the second-largest exporter in the former Soviet Union last year, said it will probably limit overseas sales, following Russia’s restrictions on trade.
