WORLD

US wildlife rescuers turn down help from Aussie rescue groups

Wildlife rescuers from South Australia and New South Wales were kept from helping out in the ongoing clean-up drive of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as the Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation lamented that strict regulations being implemented on the site prevented its team from participating in animal rescue efforts.

Japan upgrades growth forecast for FY2010/11

Japan announced on Tuesday that it is upgrading its economic growth forecast to 2.6 percent for the year leading to March 2011, coming from an earlier projection of 1.4 percent and enabling the troubled nation to achieve a gross domestic product (GDP) growth beyond the two percent mark.

World Bank predicts a moderating economy for China

The World Bank said in its report released on Friday that China is indicating symptoms of moderating growth following a solid recovery last year, largely fuelled by stimulus programs though it noted that the country’s economy has remained strong, propped up by real estate investment and stronger export demand.
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Cost of teen sailor rescue to be shouldered by Australia

The Australian government will shoulder the cost in the rescue of 16-year-old Abby Sunderland, who was forced to send off a distress call after drifting for three days more than 2,000 miles southwest of Perth, while trying to circumnavigate the world solo.

Honda unrest spurs Japanese firms’ China trade policy realignments

The recent workers’ strike in Honda’s Chinese facilities has brought into light two-edged realities for Japanese firms operating in China: increasingly confident local workers would now demand for better pays as China’s economy continues to expand and other industry sectors that anticipate rising incomes to fuel further demands for premium goods.

US calls on China to allow the appreciation of Yuan

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has called on China to allow its currency to appreciate and take its true form, integrating the policy to a much wider economic reform that would free up Beijing from too much dependence on exports and encourage domestic demands for its products.

Upward movements on global equities spur oil price hikes

Encouraged by positive indicators coming from the US market and other major worldwide markets, oil prices surged yesterday with New York’s light sweet crude delivery for July hitting $US73.28 per barrel and London’s Brent North Sea steadying at $US74.18 per barrel.

GHG accumulating hastily

Cape Grim is a cold, windy and isolated place located at the end north west of Tasmania. It is home to some of the cleanest air on the planet and is considered the most significant air measuring station in the southern hemisphere.

India opens new plant assembling the world’s cheapest car

Tata Motors of India has announced on Wednesday that the world’s cheapest car, the Nano, would again started rolling out from its new western India plant following the company’s forced desertion of its near-completed factory in Singur, West Bengal which was marred by violent land ownership dispute in 2008.

Bernanke calls for close cooperation among G20 nations

US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urged on Monday members of the Group of 20 world powers to closely coordinate financial reforms in its aim to strengthen the global economy as he leaves note that governments’ international cooperation is a must in overhauling market rules following the global financial crisis.

Global luxury market sales show some spikes but analysts remain wary

Following some pick ups early this year, luxury may be back in style as consultancy firm Bain & Company said Sunday that the luxury goods industry sales in 2010 would grow by four percent to 158 billion Euros or $A229.78 billion with much of the sales spikes to be seen within the first half of the year.

Report says China is re-evaluating Eurozone debt stakes amidst the euro crisis

Beijing has suddenly become hesitant in buying more Euro reserves and is reportedly set to re-evaluate its holdings of eurozone debt amidst the worsening sovereign debt crisis in Europe as representatives of China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) met with foreign bankers based in the Chinese capital to shed light on the issue.

UN upgrades world economic prospects for 2010-2011, sees uneven global recovery

A new United Nations (UN) report published on Wednesday said that the world economy is poised to recover from last year’s crunch with up to three percent growth this year and 3.2 percent improvement by next year, while warning at the same time that only a solid recovery could recoup job losses and fill the production backlog created by the deep recession.

US calls for worldwide transparency on measures for combating climate change

The US climate change representative said Wednesday that all countries must adopt transparency and accept external reviews of their greenhouse emissions, leaving note that global cooperation is very important to ensure that the worldwide campaign for carbon intensity reduction is heading to the right direction.

US Senate passes Obama-sponsored bill to reform Wall Street

The US Senate, voting by 59-39, has approved on Thursday a comprehensive reform bill poised to overhaul financial industry regulations amidst calls from many legislators and economic analysts to check the excesses of Wall Street, which are blamed by many as the biggest contributing factor in the 2008 global financial crisis.

China maintains currency policy as bilateral talks with US nears

China maintained its hard-line stand against revaluing the Yuan amidst longstanding pressures from the US and Europe and instead pointed fingers on the soaring American debt levels, which Beijing described as possible source of more and graver economic concerns.

Charity group raises US$24.4m to reduce maternal death in Zimbabwe, Zambia

International charity group ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) announced it has raised US$24.4m to finance two new programmes aimed at reducing maternal death in Zimbabwe and infant death in Zambia, and develop new South African education programme with Her Majesty Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Eight US banks face scrutiny over securities misrepresentation

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has launched an investigation on eight Wall Street banks following allegations that they provided misleading information to numerous ratings agencies in order to secure favourable rating on mortgage securities.

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