Stories for September 2nd 2009

Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 13:12 UTC
Gibraltar signs information exchange agreements to boost tax transparency

Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana signed a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with the UK which is set to boost levels of transparency on tax-related issues, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 13:03 UTC
The “morbid obsession” of Cuban censors to protect their perks

An article published Sunday in the official Cuban daily Juventud Rebelde criticizes the “morbid obsession” and “paranoia” of some officials for censuring information and rejecting criticism by other officials in an attempt to maintain the image of the Castro ruled island or their own positions.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 13:00 UTC
Torturers of Pinochet era still on Chilean government payroll

Chilean Defence Minister Fransisco Vidal confirmed Monday that the Military still employs people accused or convicted of human rights abuses under Chile’s military dictatorship (1973-1990). The state employees receive monthly salaries of up to 2,200 US dollars.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 07:49 UTC
China confirms stimulus and credit policies to prop economy

Chinese top leaders reaffirmed on Tuesday the country’s stimulus program and easy credit policy following one of the worst monthly performances of the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets fearing recovery efforts could be loosing steam.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 07:41 UTC
Euro zone record in July: 15.1 million jobless

Unemployment in the 16-member Euro zone hit a 10-year high in July, data released Tuesday showed. EU statistics office Eurostat said that another 167,000 people were unemployed in the Euro zone during July, pushing the jobless rate up to 9.5% from 9.4% in June which takes the total to 15.1 million people.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 07:35 UTC
IATA: air transport sector a “disaster”; airlines set to loose 9 billion USD

”The global situation of the air transport sector is a disaster” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO in a speech to JURCA, the association of airlines operating in Argentina.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 07:23 UTC
Terrorist suspect to be confirmed as Iranian Defence minister

Iranian MPs have strongly backed the defence minister-designate, in defiance of Argentine demands for his arrest over a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires. Ahmad Vahidi faced no opposition from MPs on the third day of a debate on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's choices for his new cabinet.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 07:16 UTC
Penny-saving Brits in July pay back more than they borrow

The amount of debt Britons owe fell for the first time since records began during July, figures show. People repaid £635 million more than they borrowed during the month, reducing outstanding lending to £1.456 trillion.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 07:13 UTC
Commonwealth fully suspends Fiji for refusing to call elections

The Commonwealth has fully suspended Fiji after it refused to bow to demands to call elections by next year. Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma cited the Pacific island country's lack of progress towards democracy.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 07:09 UTC
Scrappage program boosts Ford, Toyota and Honda sales in the US

US car sales responded positively to the government's 3 billion US dollars “Cash for Clunkers” program, led by a 17% sales jump at Ford and higher sales from Japan auto makers Toyota and Honda. However General Motors, Chrysler and Nissan still reported lower sales.