International
InternationalUK, France, Germany join forces to freeze EU budget until end of the decade
British Prime Minister David Cameron has joined forces with France and Germany to demand a real-terms freeze in the European Union budget until the end of the decade.
Bolivia recognizes Palestine as an independent state with pre-1967 borders
President Evo Morales announced on Friday that Bolivia would recognize Palestine as an independent sovereign state. The Bolivian leader made the statement during the Mercosur summit in Brazil.
Recommendation for an online privacy bill of rights to protect web users
The United States government should create an online privacy bill of rights and an enforceable code of conduct for Internet firms handling consumer data and tracking Web users, the U.S. Department of Commerce has recommended.
NZ obesity epidemic impacts cemeteries: larger caskets and burial plots
The obesity epidemic is forcing New Zealand funeral directors to introduce larger caskets and look for larger plots for burials. Big people are creating bigger problems for funeral directors and cemeteries.
Moody’s shocks EU: downgrades Irish debt five notches to Baa1
Moody's has downgraded debt-stricken Ireland by five notches just days after the Irish parliament approved a multi-billion euro international bailout.
WikiLeaks claims worst attacks are from in Dubai, US, UK and Switzerland
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said his organisation had come under attack not so much from governments but from banks as he vowed to release damaging leaks about them.
Mercosur after closer trade relations with Cuba, Palestine, Syria and NZ
Member nations of Mercosur will seek to boost economic and political ties with Cuba in a bid to make the island an associate member of the trade bloc.
Chile could be next country to recognize Palestine with borders prior to 1967
The decisions by the governments of Brazil and Argentina last week to recognize an independent Palestinian state with borders prior to the 1967 Six Day War has prompted criticism from the United States and intense lobbying in Santiago de Chile.
Euro zone agrees (strict conditionality) bail out permanent mechanism
European Union leaders have agreed to set up a permanent mechanism to bail out any member state whose debt problems threaten the 16-nation Euro zone.
Asia’s emerging giants move closer; agree trade goal of 100 billion USD by 2015
India and China agreed to raise the bilateral trade to 100 billion US dollars by 2015, step up investments and permit banks of other countries to open branches and representative offices.
