Stories for August 2013

Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 02:56 UTC
Malvinas/Gibraltar hand-to-hand with Argentina: “a ridiculous adventure” opposition tells Rajoy

The leader of Spain’s opposition Socialist Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba called on the government of president Mariano Rajoy “to avoid adventures that could end looking ridiculous” such as the possibility of a ‘hand to hand’ with Argentina on the Malvinas and Gibraltar cases and instead should look at all the money laundering that takes place in the British Overseas Territory.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 20:40 UTC
Spain anticipates it will target Gibraltar bunkering

As queues at the border with Gibraltar get longer and little advance is seen in the diplomatic front, Spain’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, Miguel Arias Cañete, warned that Madrid would continue to impose the border checks and has plans to target bunkering in ‘Spanish protected waters’.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 20:21 UTC
Shackleton’s Endurance could still be in good conditions on the Antarctic sea bed

Ernest Shackleton's famous ship, the Endurance, which he had to abandon in 1915 on his ill-fated Antarctic expedition, is probably still in very good condition on the ocean floor. This is one conclusion from research that studied how sunken wood degrades in southern polar waters.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 20:16 UTC
EU climbs out of 18-month recession led by Germany and France, but still fragile

European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday after official data showed that the Euro zone had finally escaped from a record 18-month recession. The Euro-zone climbed out of recession with surprisingly strong growth of 0.3 percent in the second quarter led by Germany and France, announced the European Union.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 20:01 UTC
US files anti-trust case to block merger of American with US Airways

The US justice department has filed an anti-trust case to block the merger of American Airlines and US Airways. The 11bn dollars deal which would form the world's largest airline was backed by a federal judge in March and has been approved by the European Union.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 19:53 UTC
US imposes anti-subsidy duties on shrimp from Malaysia, China, Ecuador, India and Vietnam

Imports of shrimp from Malaysia will be subject to anti-subsidy duties as high as 54.5%, the U.S. Commerce Department said, while lower penalties were set for similar goods from China, Ecuador, India and Vietnam.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 19:41 UTC
Brazil now admits construction pace of five stadiums for World Cup 2014 ‘must be accelerated’

Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo has said he is worried about delays at five stadiums still being built for next year's football World Cup. Rebelo said the pace of construction must be accelerated if the venues are to be ready by this December.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 19:36 UTC
After inflation hits 42%, Maduro names a more pragmatic president to the Central bank

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro appointed the third central bank president this year as Latin America’s biggest oil exporter seeks to rein in the fastest inflation among the world’s major economies.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 19:24 UTC
Bachelet pledges mining reforms, including royalties, to help finance programs

Chile's presidential frontrunner Michelle Bachelet says she is studying possible changes to mining policy in the world's top copper producing country. The possible changes include altering mining royalties and funding programs for state-owned mining company Codelco.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 03:32 UTC
Gibraltar will challenge “misleading versions propagated” by the Spanish media on the situation

The Gibraltar Government said it appreciated the “huge” level of support for Gibraltar from UK, European and Spanish parliamentarians, and announced the launching of a media operation to reverse the ‘bought-in’ misleading versions propagated by the Spanish government on the current situation.