Stories for 2013

Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 23:42 UTC
UK distributes LIBOR fines paid by banks among military charities

Almost £2.5 million to go to the British armed forces community, including those currently serving, veterans and families. Armed forces charities and good causes are to benefit from the latest tranche of funding from the £35 million Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) Fund, the government has announced.
Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 22:09 UTC
Venezuela media running out of newsprint; lack of dollars to import

While the world press decries plunging print readership and advertising revenue, newspaper editors in Venezuela are struggling with a much more fundamental problem: lack of newsprint.
Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 22:06 UTC
Venezuela inflation running at annualized 45.4%; government “admits economic success debt”

Venezuela's annual inflation rate hit 45.4% in August, the central bank revealed this week, the highest in five years and the highest in the region, even as consumer price increases slowed from the previous month.
Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 22:02 UTC
”If Brazil devalues, Uruguay will follow”, President Mujica tells farmers

President Jose Mujica said that Uruguay is ‘aligned’ with Brazil in economic policy, and if the government of President Dilma Rousseff decides to devalue its currency, “Uruguay will follow” and as Brazil, “Uruguay is not satisfied with the functioning of Mercosur”.
Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 00:59 UTC
“We will never concede one drop of our waters to Spain”, pledged Picardo on Gibraltar Day

By Jim Watt - The Gibraltar National Day political rally organised by the Self-Determination Group for Gibraltar (SDGG) was held at Casemates square on Tuesday. On stage were local politicians, including the leader of the opposition, heads and representatives of other British Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands, British MP's from all parties and Mr Perry Stieglitz Gibraltar's man in the US.
Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 00:57 UTC
Good news from China: manufacturing, retail sales and investment up in August

China's industrial production increased by more than expected in August the latest sign that the world's second-largest economy may be on the mend. According to data released on Tuesday factory output climbed 10.4% from a year earlier. Retail sales and fixed asset investment also rose during the month.
Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 23:04 UTC
US and UK dominate top twenty of QS World University Ranking of 2013

United States colleges and universities have once again dominated the QS World University Rankings of 2013 with six prestigious institutions featuring in the top 10. The remaining four places have been occupied by British universities.
Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 22:59 UTC
Bank of England planning polymer notes; five pound featuring Churchill expected in 2016

The Bank of England is moving closer to ditching paper pounds and switching to plastic banknotes instead. It would follow in the footsteps of Australia, Canada and others. The central bank said it would ask the public its opinion before taking a decision in December on whether to adopt polymer pounds which also would be smaller than current notes.
Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 22:52 UTC
Germany’s Thomas Bach with a long career in Olympic affairs elected IOC president

Thomas Bach was elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The German became only the ninth president in the body's 119-year history after succeeding Belgium's Jacques Rogge who stepped down after 12 years at the helm.
Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 19:49 UTC
Argentina ‘inflexible’ on Uruguayan pulp mill expansion; Cristina and Mujica could meet in New York

Argentina promised to be ‘inflexible” with the UPM pulp mill on Uruguayan territory, if it tries to increase production as it has requested, thus again opening a new controversy with Uruguay which has pledged to answer the (2011) expansion request in the last week of September. Presidents Cristina Fernandez and Jose Mujica are scheduled to meet in Buenos Aires at the end of the month.