Stories for 2011

Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 06:06 UTC
IDB calls for democratizing access to internet broadband in Unasur members

Members of the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, need to improve cooperation and stimulate private investment to increase access to broadband services, a move that will lead to a reduction in costs and greater usage, according to two studies by the Inter-American Development Bank released at a meeting of UNASUR communication ministers.
Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 06:03 UTC
Improved transparency for IDB loan operations and activities

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) became a signatory of the International Aid Transparency Initiative, a voluntary, multi-stakeholder effort to make information about aid spending easier to find, use and compare.
Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 06:00 UTC
Euro zone ministers looking to the IMF to help boost rescue fund

Euro zone ministers agreed on Tuesday to ramp up the firepower of their rescue fund but couldn't say by how much and raised the possibility of asking the IMF for more help after Italy's borrowing costs hit a Euro lifetime high of nearly 8%.
Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 05:53 UTC
S&P reduces credit ratings of big US/EU banks following overhaul of criteria

Standard & Poor's reduced on Tuesday its credit ratings on several big banks in the United States and Europe as the result of a sweeping overhaul of its ratings criteria.
Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 00:55 UTC
US Judge rejects settlement between Citigroup and Wall Street regulators

US judge rejected this week a 285m dollars settlement between Citigroup and Wall Street's regulator, the SEC, over the sale of toxic mortgages.
Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 00:27 UTC
Spanish Conservative press predicts the demise of the Gibraltar Tripartite Forum

Spain’s Conservative daily ABC diplomatic correspondent is predicting the demise of the Tripartite Forum, involving Spain, UK and Gibraltar, under Mariano Rajoy PP government expected to take office in mid December
Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 00:19 UTC
UK without a fully operational aircraft carrier until 2030, says spending watchdog

Britain may be without a fully operational aircraft carrier until 2030, according to a report published by the Commons spending watchdog. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says two carriers being built will cost more, offer less military capability and be ready much later than planned.
Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 00:18 UTC
US engineers create limbo-dancing soft-body robot inspired in the squid

US Harvard University engineers have built a limbo-dancing robot that can squeeze under obstacles in its path for search and rescue missions.
Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 00:11 UTC
Ecuadorean volcano spews red-hot rock and ash; populations abandon risk area

Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano (‘throat of fire’ in indigenous Quechua language) spewed red-hot rock and ash Tuesday as officials upgraded their eruption warning level to orange and some at-risk communities began evacuations.
Tuesday, November 29th 2011 - 23:11 UTC
Mexico’s mariachi music named to UNESCO list of “intangible cultural heritage”

Mexico celebrated as mariachi music was named to UNESCO's list of “intangible cultural heritage” in need of preservation. The Mexican music was among the new entries chosen by envoys at a meeting in Indonesia to be inscribed on the UN cultural agency's list of intangible heritage items.