WHO May Declare Swine Flu Pandemic Alert

The World Health Organization held an emergency swine flu meeting Thursday and was likely to declare the first flu pandemic in 41 years as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.
Health officials from Scotland, Indonesia and Thailand said the agency would declare a swine flu pandemic – a global [...]

Oil $US 72/Barrel

Oil prices rose for the third consecutive day today as the International Energy Agency (IEA) published its most upbeat data for 10 months and suggested the global recession might be past its peak.
In its closely watched monthly survey, the Paris-based agency said that global oil demand would fall by 2.9 per cent to 83.3 million [...]

Venezuela Bans Coke Zero

The Venezuelan government of U.S.-critic President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday ordered Coca-Cola Co to withdraw its Coke Zero beverage from the South American nation, citing unspecified dangers to health.
The decision follows a wave of nationalizations and increased scrutiny of businesses in South America’s top oil exporter.
Health Minister Jesus Mantilla said the zero-calorie Coke Zero should [...]

Standard & Poors Cuts Barbados Foreign Currency Ratings

 

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Standard & Poor’s cut Barbados credit ratings on Wednesday, saying that a combination of economic contraction and government counter-cyclical policies will further pressure the country’s debt ratios.
S&P downgraded Barbados long-term foreign-currency rating to BBB from BBB-plus. The outlook on the new rating is stable, as the agency expects the government to tighten its fiscal accounts [...]