Stories for 2013

Thursday, November 28th 2013 - 10:50 UTC
Sigh of relief in Europe: German Chancellor Merkel works out a 'grand coalition'

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) clinched a coalition deal early Wednesday that puts Germany on track to have a new government in place by Christmas.
Thursday, November 28th 2013 - 10:41 UTC
Crane collapse in stadium for opening match of 2014 World Cup kills two workers

Two people died in an accident at Sao Paulo's stadium, which is due to host the opening ceremony of the 2014 World Cup finals, police say. A senior local fire official said crews were called Wednesday midday to the Arena Corinthians after reports of a collapsed crane. It fell on top of a metal structure, destroying part of a facade.
Thursday, November 28th 2013 - 10:36 UTC
Spain assures it will not open UK government bags with official correspondence

Spain has assured London that the incident in which UK government bags containing official correspondence and communications were opened by Spanish officials at the Gibraltar border, “will not see a repeat of these actions”, according to an official release from the Foreign Office on the update to Parliament on the incident.
Thursday, November 28th 2013 - 10:31 UTC
Maduro tells Central bank he expects 5% deflation in November because of the mandatory price cuts

President Nicolás Maduro has sent clear messages to the Venezuelan central bank arguing that following the 'economic war' he declared on big business and hoarding with the mandatory cuts in prices, November should register “5% deflation and not inflation”.
Thursday, November 28th 2013 - 10:26 UTC
Rousseff reluctant to increase fuel prices fearing inflation and social unrest

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff is reluctant to allow the country's oil corporation Petrobras to increase the price of fuels this year, which would have an immediate impact on gasoline, transport and inflation, according to Folha de Sao Paulo.
Thursday, November 28th 2013 - 10:21 UTC
Gol airlines admits it's on the brink because of Brazil's tepid economic performance

Brazilian airline Gol Linhas-Aereas could continue cutting its domestic network in 2014 if necessary, Chief Executive Paulo Kakinoff said this week, highlighting uncertainty about economic growth.
Thursday, November 28th 2013 - 10:04 UTC
Falklands' referendum receives praise and is shown as an example for other Overseas Territories

Praise for the Falkland Islands last March referendum and encouragement for other Overseas Territories to hold similar referendums on their future, was included in the final communiqué from the annual UK/British Overseas Territories joint Ministerial Council held this week in London.
Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 16:10 UTC
Foreign Office complains to Spain search of a UK diplomatic bag at the Gibraltar border

The British Government said Spain’s decision to search a UK diplomatic bag at the border with Gibraltar was “a serious infringement” of international diplomatic protocol. In a statement, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said it had called on the Spanish Government to look into the incident and ensure it was not repeated.
Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 10:12 UTC
UK 'unreserved' support for Gibraltar's international sports: first football, now rugby

Britain’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, has pledged her ‘unreserved’ support Gibraltar’s international sporting ambitions. The backing for Gibraltar comes as the Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) goes through the process of FIRA/AER (European Rugby Federation) membership after being previously rejected and blocked by Spain last July despite meeting the necessary criteria.
Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:25 UTC
US defies China's 'air defense identification zone' over disputed islands

US has flown two B-52 bombers over disputed islands in the East China Sea in defiance of new Chinese air defense rules, officials say. China set up its “air defense identification zone” on Saturday insisting that aircraft obey its rules or face “emergency defensive measures”.