News
China's inflation eases due to tightening measures
May 11, 2011Inflation in China's rapidly growing economy has cooled slightly, raising hopes that government efforts to fight inflation are beginning to take effect. The annual inflation rate fell to 5.3% in April from a year earlier, down from a three-year high...
Dutch flower farmer in U.S. ships 400,000 blooms each day
May 10, 2011Virginia Factory Turns Out Tulips by the Millions Spring means watching flowers bloom and one amazing place to watch this happen can be found near Stevensburg, Virginia, just 113 kilometers (70 miles) outside of Washington. At Fresh Tulips USA, they...
Tepco wants government help for compensation payments
May 10, 2011The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has asked the government for help compensating victims of the crisis. Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said it had presented a formal written request to the Economy Minister, Banri...
Nuclear 'cheapest low-carbon option' for UK energy
May 09, 2011Nuclear power will remain the cheapest way for the UK to grow its low-carbon energy supply for at least a decade, according to government advisers. But renewables should provide 30-45% of the nation's energy by 2030, says the Committee on Climate Change...
US to meet China in Washington to tackle thorny issues
May 09, 2011Top US and Chinese officials will be meeting for two days in Washington, starting this Monday. The heads of 16 US government agencies and representatives from 20 Chinese government departments will discuss the most difficult issues in a complex, interdependent...
North Korea 'behind South Korean bank cyber hack'
May 03, 2011Prosecutors in South Korea say North Korean hackers were behind an attack that paralysed a leading bank last month. Banking operations at Nonghyup, a South Korean farm co-operative, were halted by the cyber intrusion, leaving customers unable to access...
US dollar and shares climb on news of Bin Laden's death
May 02, 2011The US dollar has rebounded and stock markets gained in Asia and Europe after US President Barack Obama said Osama Bin Laden had been killed. Oil prices slid more than 1%, while "safe havens" such as gold and silver also lost value. Analysts...
Egypt gas pipeline to Israel and Jordan explodes
April 27, 2011A pipeline carrying gas from Egypt to Israel and Jordan has exploded after an attack by an armed gang in the north Sinai area of Egypt. A tower of flames shot into the air and forced the pipeline to be shut down, Egyptian security officials say. It...
Nokia to shed 7,000 staff as part of reorganisation
April 27, 2011Mobile phone maker Nokia has announced it will shed 7,000 jobs as part of a plan to refocus the company on smartphones. Nokia said the majority of the job losses would be in Denmark and Finland, with a total of 700 jobs going in the UK. The plan will...
Japan debt outlook cut to negative on rebuilding costs
April 27, 2011Japan's sovereign rating outlook has been cut to negative by Standard & Poor's (S&P) in the wake of the devastation caused by last month's earthquake and tsunami. The ratings agency said that reconstruction efforts are likely to further increase...