Stories for 2013

Monday, July 8th 2013 - 04:13 UTC
Brazil demands an explanation from the US regarding electronic surveillance of its citizens and companies

Brazil will demand an explanation from the United States over reports its citizens' electronic communications have been under surveillance by US spy agencies for at least a decade, foreign minister Antonio Patriota said on Sunday.
Monday, July 8th 2013 - 04:10 UTC
South Georgia government issues coin depicting a Weddell Seal pup

The South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Government has released a Pobjoy Mint new coin that depicts a Weddell Seal pup. The species is native to Antarctica and lives further south than any other mammal.
Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 12:20 UTC
Gibraltar calls on London to complain about Spanish 'buzzing' jets

Britain and Spain faced another round of diplomatic tension on Wednesday night after four Spanish jets “buzzed” over the BOT Gibraltar, causing delay to a commercial flight. Reports collected by the Gibraltar Chronicle indicate eyewitnesses said the Matador jets flew in from behind Los Barrios and very close to the north end of the Rock.
Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 07:16 UTC
Venezuela and Nicaragua prepared to offer ‘humanitarian asylum’ to Snowden

Presidents Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela said Friday they were willing to grant asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The NSA whistleblower has asked for asylum in several countries, including Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 07:09 UTC
Piscator incident: Spain says fishing vessel was operating eight miles outside Argentina’s EEZ

The Spanish government believes an “error of appreciation” was committed in the incident involving the Galician trawler “Piscator” captured this week in the South Atlantic allegedly operating in Argentine waters. Spain is hopeful that the situation will be resolved in “coming hours”.
Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 07:01 UTC
H1N1 influenza virus outbreak in north Chile; government considering decreeing ‘health alert’

Eleven people have died from the H1N1 influenza virus in northern Chile in an outbreak that the health minister raised the possibility of decreeing a health alert to restrict people's mobility.
Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 06:51 UTC
Success of South Georgia’s rat eradication campaign makes BBC news

The world's largest rat eradication campaign has now laid toxic bait on a further 580 sq km of South Georgia, reaching its target. These poisonous pellets have now been spread on 70% of the rat-infested island, according to a BBC report from Melissa Hogenboom.
Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 06:44 UTC
US economy adds more jobs than forecasted; markets looking at the Fed’s reaction

The US economy added a net 195,000 new jobs in June, official figures show. The figure was well above economists' expectations of 165,000. Revisions to data for April and May added a further 70,000 jobs to previous estimates. This means the jobless rate remained steady at 7.6% of the workforce, according to data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics.
Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 05:12 UTC
Brazil inflation in June slowed to 0.2% and 3.15% in six months, but still ahead of target

Inflation in Brazil slowed to 0.2% in June compared to the month before, but, at 6.7% over 12 months, was still well above the government's target of 4.5%, according to the latest official figures released on Friday.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 23:52 UTC
Brazil cuts spending determined to ensure 2.3% primary surplus, pledges Mantega

Brazil announced on Friday it will immediately cut government spending by 6.65 billion dollars to balance the budget and achieve the goal of a primary fiscal surplus of 2.3% of GDP. The decision is seen as a strong signal to recover investors’ confidence following weeks of turmoil and poor performance of the economy.