NewsRack: newstrust/Business/Global-Economy/Trade

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits India to seek improved ties after border standoff - Star Tribune: World

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

China Premier Li Keqiang in India - BBC: World

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

China's Premier Li Keqiang travels to India for his first foreign visit since taking office, with border tensions and trade topping the agenda.

Will China mediate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process? - MSNBC

Ed Flanagan, Producer, NBC News — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Will China mediate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?

Sherry bids farewell to Washington - Nation : Last Twenty Four Hours News

Special Correspondent — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Sherry bids farewell to Washington

China ready to arbitrate in Kashmir dispute - Nation : Last Twenty Four Hours News

Javed Siddique — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

China ready to arbitrate in Kashmir dispute

Exposés of China’s Elite a Big Lure in Hong Kong - International Herald Tribune Asia Pacific

By CHRIS BUCKLEY — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Exposés of China’s Elite a Big Lure in Hong Kong

Editorial | Notebook: Before You Buy That T-Shirt - NY Times: Editorials

By VIKAS BAJAJ — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Editorial | Notebook: Before You Buy That T-Shirt

Strategies: Japan Starts to Recharge After Two Lost Economic Decades - NY Times: Asia-Pacific

By JEFF SOMMER — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Strategies: Japan Starts to Recharge After Two Lost Economic Decades

This is a new, farcical low and David Cameron is losing control | Geoffrey Howe - Guardian: Comment is Free

Geoffrey Howe — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

The Tory backbenchers' desire to quit Europe would leave Britain dangerously isolated Unfortunately, last week's events in the House of Commons have brought the debate on Europe within the Conservative party to a new, almost farcical, low. Having previously opposed the introduction of legislation in this parliament to hold a referendum in the next one, the prime minister suddenly allowed a free vote among backbenchers, with the government abstaining, on the extraordinary basis that the party had no policy on the issue. Then, once more than 100 backbenchers had voted for such a referendum, he insisted that all Tory MPs, whatever their view, should from now on support the proposal, on a three-line whip, whereas only the day before they could take any position they chose. This saga looks more like the politics of the French Fourth Republic than the serious practice of government and it is especially disappointing and damaging on such an important issue – the place of Britain in Europe and the ...

Pieces of a geopolitical puzzle - Hindustan Times: India

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Pieces of a geopolitical puzzle

Western leaders study 'gamechanging' report on global drugs trade - The Guardian -- World Latest

Jamie Doward — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Review by Organisation of American States on illicit drugs 'could mark beginning of the end' of prohibition European governments and the Obama administration are this weekend studying a "gamechanging" report on global drugs policy that is being seen in some quarters as the beginning of the end for blanket prohibition. Publication of the Organisation of American States (OAS) review, commissioned at last year's Cartagena Summit of the Americas attended by Barack Obama, reflects growing dissatisfaction among Latin American countries with the current global policy on illicit drugs. It spells out the effects of the policy on many countries and examines what the global drugs trade will look like if the status quo continues. It notes how rapidly countries' unilateral drugs policies are evolving, while at the same time there is a growing consensus over the human costs of the trade. "Growing media attention regarding this phenomenon in many countries, including on social media, reflects a world in ...

Sea Turtle Comeback in a Corner of the Caribbean - International Herald Tribune: Americas

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Sea Turtle Comeback in a Corner of the Caribbean

Drumbeat: May 18, 2013 - The Oil Drum

Leanan — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Energy Department approves expanded LNG exports The Energy Department gave a terminal near Freeport, Tex., permission Friday to ship liquefied natural gas to Japan, providing a new outlet for rising U.S. production of shale gas despite qualms of environmentalists and many domestic manufacturers. The permit marks another step in the sudden reversal of fortune in the natural gas business. Less than five years ago, anticipating a worsening shortfall in domestic supplies of natural gas, the Freeport terminal on Quintana Island began operations as an import facility. But advances in hydraulic fracturing techniques have unlocked new supplies of natural gas from shale rock. Freeport, like other import terminals, now wants to spend $10 billion to retool the terminal so it can send gas abroad in liquefied form. The US Department of Energy has authorized Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction, LLC (Freeport) to export LNG to so called non-Free Trade Agreement (non-FTA) countries. Subject ...

Thousands rally to oppose Italy cuts - BBC: World

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Thousands of protesters, led by trade unionists, rally in the Italian capital Rome against the policies of the new coalition government.

Commencement speakers: Conservatives need not apply - LA Times: Opinion

By Kevin Hassett — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

A look at the data suggests that at graduation ceremonies on U.S. college and university campuses, it's liberals only.

A look at the data suggests that at graduation ceremonies on U.S. college and university campuses, it's liberals only.

Small Talk: Retiring boomers driving sales of small businesses - Salt Lake Tribune

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

by Joyce M. Rosenberg The Associated Press Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT Baby boomers preparing for retirement are driving a surge in small business sales, as they find more and more buyers confident enough in the improving economy to expand their own businesses through acquisitions. In the first three months of this year, the number of sales that closed jumped 56 percent from the same time in 2012, according to BizBuySell.com, an online marketplace for small businesses. Retirement was the No. 1 contributor to business sales in the fourth quarter of last year and th... ...

Glance: Europe's Key Institutions - AP Business

The Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Following the chaotic bailout of Cyprus, top European Union officials are saying it's time to rethink how the region manages its crisis - and who should be involved....

Countries submit action plans to combat trade in elephant ivory - New Kerala: India News

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

New York, May 18 : Eight countries identified as being the most affected by the illegal trade in elephant ivory have submitted national action plans to the United Nations-backed treaty for the conservation of endangered species containing measures to combat the scourge.

California jobless rate falls to 9% - LA Times: Business

By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

California jobless rate falls to 9%

Groups divided on Bangladesh safety overhauls - San Jose Mercury News: News

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

The nation's largest retail industry organization fired back Friday, outlining reasons why a legally binding global pact to make Bangladesh clothing factories safer would expose merchants to undue legal exposure. The move came as U.S. retailers face increasing pressure from a large coalition of religious groups and investors to work together to develop a plan

After $200 Million, Darpa Gives Up on Formation-Flying Satellites - Wired Top Stories

David Axe — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

After $200 Million, Darpa Gives Up on Formation-Flying Satellites

Crime at sea: The world's most pirate-infested waters - MSNBC

Ted Kemp — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Crime at sea: The world's most pirate-infested waters

Ethical shopping: how the high street fashion stores rate | Lucy Siegle - Guardian: Environment

Lucy Siegle — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Last month's factory collapse in Bangladesh revealed horrible truths about the clothes industry. There has never been a better time to choose your shopping carefully On 24 April when the Rana Plaza factory complex on the outskirts of Dhaka fell down like a house of cards killing 1,127 workers, the fashion myth that we can have whatever we want, at speed, in bulk and at unprecedentedly "affordable" prices collapsed too. In case you have been on the moon, it's worth a recap on the consumer style phenomenon known as fast fashion. A business model that threw out the fashion industry bible, it turned six-month lead times into days and got us hooked on 30-50 seasons a year (the quaint autumn/winter and spring/summer showings of fashion weeks are now as culturally relevant as Gregorian plainsong). Allied to globalisation and free-market economics, fast fashion brands and retailers have outsourced production to low-waged economies, predominantly in Asia. Fast fashion created its own set of moguls ...

People are told migrants stole their jobs – in truth bosses want cheap labour | Deborah Orr - Guardian: Comment is Free

Deborah Orr — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

The Conservatives are determined to be seen as the anti-Europe party, but an EU referendum that took Britain out of the union would be a disaster for the party Having a referendum on membership of the EU is a bit like having a referendum on membership of the moon's gravitational pull. You can vote to leave it all you like, but it will still be there, exerting the natural influence of its mass. Even China has EU regulations on its statute book, because it needs them to trade with Europe. The best that can be said of a possible withdrawal is that at last Westminster will have only itself to blame. Oh, and of course there will be an end to the regular convulsions of drama over the possibility of having a referendum on membership of the EU. Which admittedly does sound nice. The poor old Tories – Europe drives them so bonkers. They're like cartoon characters whose eyes turn into pound-signs, except their pupils are shaped like crosses, for votes. The Conservatives are keen to be seen as the ...

India, Japan to strengthen investment, trade ties - New Kerala: World News

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Tokyo, May 17 : India and Japan Friday agreed to further strengthen investment and trade ties by ensuring faster implementation of ongoing projects.