NEWS

Africa

25 October 2012 BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-

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Africa trade barriers hit food production, says World Bank: Africa could feed itself if trade
restrictions were reduced and fertile land was put to good use, according to the World
Bank.Just 5% of African cereal imports come from other African countries, it
said.Removing cross-border barriers would free up trade, reduce prices and generate
billions of dollars for African governments, it added.The bank estimates there are
almost 20 million people affected by hunger in the Sahel region of West Africa. Trade
restrictions also raise the price of food to consumers and reduce the incentive for
farmers to produce, as they receive only a small proportion of the end price.

Europe

October 24, 2012 The new York times

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/business/global/court-in-france-upholds-kervielsentence-and-fine.html?ref=europe
Court in France Upholds Traders Sentence and Fine:A French appeals court on
Wednesday upheld the 2010 conviction of Jrme Kerviel, a former Socit
Gnrale trader whose rogue dealings brought the French bank to the brink of collapse
almost five years ago. In her ruling, the appellate judge, Mireille Filippini, also upheld
Mr. Kerviels original prison sentence of five years, with two suspended, and the trial
courts order that he pay 4.9 billion euros, or $6.4 billion, in restitution to Socit
Gnrale equivalent to the amount the bank lost in the course of unwinding his
fictitious trades in early 2008.

Asia : 24 October 2012 BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china20069627C

China's economic miracle: The seeds of China's rapid economic growth since the 1990s
were first planted back in 1978 when the Communist Party started to introduce
capitalist market principles, initially in the agricultural sector. Economic expansion
accelerated dramatically in the 1990s as a result of mass privatisations, and the
opening up of the country to foreign investment. Overseas firms rushed to build
factories in China to take advantage of its low labour costs.

America October 25, 2012 THE NEW YORK TIMES

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/us/politics/business-leaders-urge-deficit-deal-evenwith-more-taxes.html?ref=business&_r=0
Business Leaders Urge Deficit Deal Even With More Taxes: The partisan rift over taxes
has blocked a deficit-reduction deal for two years, and spilled into the 2012 campaigns.
Yet as Republicans and Democrats continue to brawl, business leaders are stepping up
pressure on Washington to get a deal even if it calls for more revenues including
higher tax bills for themselves. Alarmed last year by Washingtons brinkmanship over

raising the nations debt ceiling, these executives are mobilizing now to avert another
such crisis at the turn of this year. After the election, they plan to press the two parties
to compromise on a long-term substitute for the pending fiscal cliff the immediate,
across-the-board spending cuts and tax increases that otherwise would hit nearly all
Americans on Jan. 1, potentially putting substantial new strain on a still-weak economy.

Oceanie:

The Wall Street Journal , October 25, 2012 Fed keeps

rates low, says US growth is moderate: THE Federal Reserve has stuck to its
assessment that the economy is growing moderately and voted to keep its support in
place to help the jobs market recover.Fed officials acknowledged an uptick in
household spending and strength in the housing market, but said they would continue
the central bank's bond-buying programs and its plan to keep short-term interest rates
near zero at least through mid-2015.