Stories for 2013

Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 16:54 UTC
Slightly encouraging signs from the EU in employment and manufacturing

The number of unemployed in the Euro-zone has fallen, slightly, for the first time since April 2011. The fall in June came amid brightening economic prospects, suggesting an end to the bloc’s stubborn recession.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 16:38 UTC
US economy performance better than expected; expansion in 2012 was 2.8%

The US economy grew at an annualised pace of 1.7% in the second quarter of the year, the Commerce Department has said. That was a faster pace than expected by economists. It was also up from the growth rate for the first three months of 2013, which was revised lower to 1.1% from 1.8%.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 16:34 UTC
The Times comes strongly in support of Gibraltar’s wish to be ruled from Britain

An editorial entitled ‘Spain should respect Gibraltarians’ wish to be ruled from Britain’ The Times on Tuesday sent one of its firmest views expressed in recent decades calling on Spain to form their policies around the concept of consent.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 16:28 UTC
Norwegian company converts fresh seaweed to dry powder for alginates in 24 hours

Norwegian company FMC Biopolymer converts seaweed to alginate for use in thousands of products with an advanced 24 hour chemical process. ABB has supplied process automation, motors and drives to FMC Biopolymer for more than 20 years.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 16:17 UTC
Vatican bank opens its books to comply with ‘honest and transparent’ promise

The Vatican bank opened its web site www.ior.va on Wednesday as it steps up efforts to improve its tarnished image after a succession of financial scandals and repeated criticisms of its lack of transparency.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 06:31 UTC
Paraguay downplays Mujica’s warning calling for a ‘pragmatic’ return to Mercosur

Paraguay’s incoming government foreign policy advisor Eladio Loizaga downplayed Mercosur veiled warning calling for a quick return of the country to the block because ‘Paraguay is landlocked and needs the Parana River and the River Plate to reach the sea’.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 06:23 UTC
Paraguay president Franco congratulates Mujica on his knowledge of geography

Paraguayan president Federico Franco replied to his Uruguayan peer Jose Mujica ironic remarks saying that ‘evidently he’s good at geography; I guess he passed with the highest grades’ since he is aware that Paraguay is a landlocked ‘Mediterranean’ country.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 06:14 UTC
UN calls on Chile to stop using anti-terrorism law against indigenous Mapuches

A United Nations investigator on Tuesday urged Chile’s government to stop using an anti-terrorism law against Mapuche Indians who are fighting to recover their ancestral land.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 06:09 UTC
Ecuador’s Correa pondering whether to join Mercosur or the Pacific Alliance

President Rafael Correa said that the determining factor for Ecuador to join as full member of Mercosur or the Alliance of the Pacific is the ‘flexibility’ granted in certain admission conditions, taking into account the fact that Ecuador does not have a national currency.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 06:00 UTC
Brazil’s next soybean crop expected to increase 9% to a record 89.1 million tons

Brazil’s 2013/14 soybean crop that starts planting in September is expected to grow by 9% under normal weather conditions to a record 89.1 million tons, local crop analyst AgRural said in a release.