Stories for 2011

Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 21:33 UTC
S&P tells UK to stick to plans to cut budget deficit if not credit ratings could be reviewed

Britain's prized triple-A sovereign debt rating could come under pressure if the government strays from its path of public deficit cuts in the face of weaker growth, credit agency Standard & Poor's said on Monday.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 21:29 UTC
Gillnets pushing Maui dolphins towards extinction says marine experts

The world's most endangered sea dolphins are sliding towards extinction in the face of damaging fishing methods, experts are warning. Hector's dolphins are found only around New Zealand, where the population has fallen from 30,000 to around 7,000 since nylon fishing nets came into use in the 1970s, a conference on marine bio-diversity in Aberdeen will hear on Thursday.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 21:13 UTC
“Chavez preaches Socialism but spends like a rich capitalist”, Venezuela Transparency

One morning October last year two agents from the Venezuelan presidency cabinet left on a special mission from the Miraflores Palace (seat of the Executive). They headed a few blocks away to the Central Bank to pick up five million dollars cash, expenses-money for the coming international tour of President Chavez to Moscow, Kiev, Teheran, Damascus and Tripoli.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 16:57 UTC
Denmark taxes food with more than 2.3% of saturated fat

In a bid to encourage healthier eating among its citizens, Denmark has introduced a tax on foods containing more than 2.3% saturated fat. As from last Saturday, all such products in Denmark now carry a tax to the tune of 16 Danish krone (2.86 dollars) per kilogram of saturated fat that goes into making them.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 08:07 UTC
Brazil props defence industry by reducing taxes, but demands more exports

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff signed a bill exempting defence companies from taxes for five years. The measure is geared to prop the defence industry and reduce the share of imported equipment for the armed forces.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 08:01 UTC
US with highest poverty levels in 52 years: 46.2m including 14.7m children

Poverty in the United States has grown steadily in the past few years. According to the US Census bureau, 46.2 million people lived in poverty in 2010, the highest in the 52 years poverty estimates have been published.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 07:57 UTC
Rare Dolan ram has a going price in China of £ 1.4 million

Only 1,000 Dolan sheep exist in the world, according to breeders, and their extraordinary features have made them the latest collectors' item for ultra-rich Chinese, writes the Daily Telegraph.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 07:46 UTC
Eight countries agree to giant shark sanctuaries banning commercial fishing

Leaders from eight countries launched an initiative to prevent the extinction of sharks, symbolizing the latest development in the growing movement to safeguard the ocean's top predator. Members of the coalition committed to a declaration supporting the development of sanctuaries that end commercial shark fishing in their national waters.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 07:40 UTC
Uruguay/Argentina agree to hake spring ban and limit annual catch to 50.000 tons

Uruguay and Argentina agreed on a three months ban for the hake fisheries in the jointly shared maritime zone with the purpose of protecting juveniles and contribute to the conservation of the resource.
Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 07:33 UTC
Thousands demonstrate at the Conservatives’ conference in Manchester

An estimated 35,000 people have turned out in Manchester to demonstrate at the governing Conservative Party's annual conference, which opened on Sunday. The march was organised by the Trades Union Congress, which billed it as a rally for “the alternative - jobs, growth, and justice”.