Saab: Last, Last Ditch

January 9th, 2010
Posted by EUEditor

Last- minute bidders emerged to try to save the Saab car company on the final date formally declared for offers (7.1.10), by the parent company General Motors. … Read More »

Copenhagen Climate Moves “Won’t Turn On A Dime”

December 30th, 2009
Posted by Lee Duffield

COMMENTARY: The world climate change conference at Copenhagen (7-18.12.09) produced an accord registering nations’ commitments but not the binding treaty being sought by environmentalist gr0pups and by several, mostly Western, governments. … Read More »

Huge Push On Climate Change Pre-Copenhagen

June 13th, 2009
Posted by EUEditor

This year has already seen a welter of consultations at highest levels in the lead-up to the December meeting at Copenhagen on climate change — but not everybody is impressed with the rate of progress.

A drafting session for a possible agreement, lasting twelve days with thousands of participants, has just has just ended in Bonn. … Read More »

More Australian Troops To Afghanistan

April 30th, 2009
Posted by EUEditor

The Australian government has confirmed it will send an extra 450 soldiers to Afghanistan.

The new forces, increasing the country’s commitment by nearly one-third, will be comprised of a Company group to assist with security during the forthcoming national elections, and more soldiers to work in mentoring and training roles with the Afghanistan army.

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said (29.4.09) the overseas military commitment was becoming unpopular but was needed to help protect Australians from terrorist attack and to honour commitments to the American alliance.

The increase in troop numbers comes at the same time as additional commitments by Britain and the United States; the international force operating under a NATO command structure is stepping up its level of operations.

G20 Accord: New Rule Book For The World Economy?

April 3rd, 2009
Posted by Lee Duffield

The “G20” economic summit in London (3.4.09) has signaled a change in the way world business activity is to be managed – in its response to the economic crisis.

Lee Duffield sets out to make sense of the claims about how a dinner meeting and set-piece round table by 20 heads of government might make a great difference. … Read More »

Tough Times At The G20

April 2nd, 2009
Posted by Lee Duffield

US President Barak Obama and the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown predicted some tough bargaining on the eve of the “Group of 20” economic summit in London (2.4.09). … Read More »

Climate Change: The Darkest Hour

March 28th, 2009
Posted by Amelia Birnie

At 8:30pm tonight, people from all corners of the world will turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - and cast their vote for action on climate change. … Read More »