January 15, 2012
French PM downplays rating decision
French PM Francois Fillon has defended his government's economic policies following the decision by ratings agency Standard and Poor's to downgrade the credit rating of France. He said the government would push ahead with reforms and debt…
January 15, 2012
China angry at US sanctions on oil firm Zhuhai Zhenrong
China has criticised sanctions imposed by the US on a Chinese firm for selling refined petroleum products to Iran. China's foreign ministry said imposing unilateral sanctions on Zhuhai Zhenrong based on US law was "unreasonable". The US said on…
January 15, 2012
Record imports widen US trade deficit
The US trade deficit widened in November for the first time in five months. Official figures from the Commerce Department showed that the overall deficit grew 10.4% to $47.8bn. Imports rose 1.3% to a record $225.6bn (£147.3bn), boosted by demand for…
January 15, 2012
Fight for Claro customers
Telecommunication firms Digicel and LIME both moved on Friday to lure Claro customers in limbo as word spread about Digicel's plan to shut down the Claro network which it acquired last year. Digicel stated in a press release that it had advised…
January 15, 2012
Man Utd sponsor Aon moves headquarters to London
US insurance broker Aon has said it plans to move its corporate headquarters from Chicago to London. "The move provides greater access to emerging markets and takes better advantage of the strategic proximity to Lloyd's," the firm said. The move,…
January 15, 2012
Greece debt write-off talks with banks stall
Talks between Greece and its private sector lenders over a possible 50% write-off of its debts have stalled. Reaching a deal is a pre-condition for Athens receiving the next chunk of bailout cash from the International Monetary Fund and European…
January 15, 2012
Third Survivor Rescued on Overturned Italian Ship
Rescue workers on the stricken Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia have rescued a third survivor. The workers found the survivor Sunday as they searched through the ship. Late Saturday, a South Korean couple on their honeymoon were rescued from…
January 15, 2012
Syria crisis: Assad ‘gives amnesty for uprising crimes’
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has granted a general amnesty for all crimes committed during the 10-month uprising, state-run media report. It would apply to army deserters who turned themselves in before the end of January, peaceful…
January 15, 2012
Gunmen Storm Police Building in Western Iraq
Iraqi officials say gunmen stormed a police building in the western city of Ramadi Sunday, as at least one suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the facility. Police say clashes are ongoing inside the building. It is not clear if there are…
January 15, 2012
Iran Warns Arab Nations Against Increasing Crude Production
Iran's representative to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is warning his country's Arab neighbors against raising their crude output to replace Iranian oil in the event of Western sanctions. A Sunday report by the Sharq newspaper…