Stories for June 15th 2016

Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 19:06 UTC
Federal Reserve cautious about the future, leaves interest rates unchanged

United States Federal Reserve in a unanimous vote kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and signaled that it will assess labor market conditions, inflation expectations and financial and international developments before deciding on future actions. The U.S. central bank also lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2016 and 2017 and indicated it would be less aggressive in tightening monetary policy after the end of this year.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 17:06 UTC
UK Overseas Territories could suffer significantly from Brexit, says UKOTA report

Britain’s Caribbean Overseas Territories could suffer significantly if it votes to leave the European Union in the June 23 referendum, according to a report released in London.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 16:57 UTC
Russia on the threshold of being booted from Euro 2016 because of fan violence

Russia will be booted out of Euro 2016 if there is any repeat of the fan violence which marred their opening match with England, UEFA said. UEFA gave Russia a suspended disqualification and $168,300 fine on Tuesday for the crowd trouble in Marseille. Russian fans were seen punching and kicking England fans after their 1-1 draw in the Stade Velodrome.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 16:49 UTC
Adidas will open its first factory in Germany in 30 years, with robots

Adidas will be opening its first factory in Germany in more than 30 years is one of the most visible examples of global brands bringing manufacturing home because of rising labor costs in Asia. Adidas’s 50,000 square-foot factory, in the Bavarian town of Ansbach, will rely on robots and customized automation to produce 500,000 pairs of athletic shoes a year—well below 1% of Adidas’s total annual production of 300 million pairs—when full production starts in 2017.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 12:40 UTC
Brexit: What if?

By Gwynne Dyer - After months in which opinion polls showed a six to ten percentage points lead for the 'Remain' side in the referendum campaign on continued British membership of the European Union (EU), the numbers have suddenly shifted in favor of 'Leave'.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 11:46 UTC
Rio Games receive the blessing from Olympic Committee president

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said on Tuesday he was “happy” with interim Brazilian president Michel Temer's commitment to the Rio Games, following his first meeting with the host country's new leader.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 11:27 UTC
Falklands Holdings expects quieter period following suspension of oil exploration but trusts increased tourism

Falkland Islands Holdings PLC on Tuesday reported a fall in pre-tax profit for its recently ended financial year, and said it expects to see a quieter period in the Falklands for the year ahead, to be offset by its Portsmouth Harbour Ferry and Momart businesses.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 07:54 UTC
Brexit debate escalates: Remains warn of a fiscal “black hole”; Vote Leave slams “hysterical prophecies”

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne says he will have to slash public spending and increase taxes in an emergency Budget to tackle a £30bn “black hole” if the UK votes to leave the European Union. The chancellor will say this could include raising income and inheritance taxes and cutting the NHS budget.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 07:15 UTC
Kerry announces at OAS assembly high-level talks to ease tensions with Venezuela

United States Secretary of State John Kerry announced high-level talks to ease tensions with Venezuela's populist government on Tuesday, just hours after he backed calls for a referendum that could force President Nicolas Maduro from office. Kerry said the talks would start immediately in Caracas and be led by Thomas Shannon, a veteran of U.S. diplomacy in the region. Attempts last year at dialogue between the ideological foes were stalled by Venezuela's deepening crisis.
Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 05:26 UTC
An Argentine ex-Kirchnerite official caught red-handed trying to hide bags of cash in a monastery

An Argentine former secretary of Public Works with the Cristina Fernandez administration, Jose Lopez, and currently a member of the Mercosur parliament, was arrested on Tuesday in the Buenos Aires province locality of General Rodríguez while he was trying to hide bags full of money and an automatic gun in the garden of a convent.