Stories for April 6th 2017

Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 14:59 UTC
UK services sector grows stronger than expected during March

Activity in the UK's dominant services sector rose at a faster-than-expected pace in March. The Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI) for services rose to 55, compared with economists' expectations of a slight increase to 53.5. The services sector, which accounts for three-quarters of the UK economy, said business activity and new work grew at the strongest rate so far this year.
Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 12:53 UTC
Uruguay's March inflation finally drops to the Central bank target range

Consumer prices in Uruguay rose 0.68% in March, the government said in a statement on Wednesday, bringing the country's 12-month inflation rate to 6.81%. It was the first time since December 2010 that Uruguayan inflation was within the country's 3% to 7% target range.
Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 12:46 UTC
Trump removes top strategist Steve Bannon from the Security Council

President Donald Trump has removed his senior strategist Steve Bannon from the US National Security Council (NSC). The appointment in January raised fears that the circle of US intelligence chiefs was being politicized.
Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 12:43 UTC
Canadian couple wins the lottery a third time

The third time was indeed the charm for a Canadian couple who won C$8.2m, (US$6.1m) in the lottery. Barbara and Douglas Fink had won the lottery twice before, once in 1989 and once in 2010.
Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 12:35 UTC
ExxonMobil strikes oil again offshore Guyana, the second this year

ExxonMobil’s oil finding streaking offshore Guyana is continuing, with the company reporting yesterday that it has struck oil again. It is Exxon’s third such find in the Stabroek Block and the second this year, coming on the heels of oil discoveries in Liza in 2015 and Payara in January.
Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 08:05 UTC
General strike in Argentina; Macri hosts the World Economic Forum

Workers are committed to a general strike in recession-hit Argentina on Thursday, drawing complaints from conservative President Mauricio Macri as he prepares to host leaders and business people for an economic forum.
Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 06:52 UTC
Process for independent Scotland joining the EU could be “relatively speedy” and “no need to queue”

The process of an independent Scotland rejoining the European Union could be “relatively speedy”, a senior German MEP has said. Elmar Brok said there would be few technical obstacles to overcome if the political will was there to allow it to happen.
Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 06:31 UTC
Tech entrepreneur wants to rescue Falklands' flagship HMS Hermes from the scrap heap

A technology entrepreneur is looking to raise around £15m to save the Falklands Task Force flagship on which he once served from the possibility of scrap, and is looking to celebrities and the public to help him out on his mission, according to channelweb.co.uk Falklands flagship HMS Hermes was decommissioned last month and is heading towards the scrap heap.
Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 06:08 UTC
Maduro blows up last bridge with Mercosur and causes deep rift in Uruguayan ruling coalition

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro seems to have blown up the last bridge to Mercosur when he launched a barrage of accusations against Uruguay's foreign minister which triggered an immediate reaction from president Tabare Vazquez, who demanded evidence of the charges or a public retraction from the embattled Maduro. But the conflict has also openly exposed the deep rift inside the Uruguayan ruling coalition regarding the Bolivarian revolution “anti imperialist” regime.