Stories for October 2018

Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 09:38 UTC
IMF completes review of Argentina's stand-by loan; Lagarde praises performance

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed on Friday the first review of Argentina’s economic performance under the 36-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) that was approved on June 20, 2018.
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 09:29 UTC
UK and Overseas Territories: “perhaps a review of relations is appropriate”

For years there was consensus between the major UK political parties about the Overseas Territories, but that has now changed and the OTs now face a “more hostile and less supportive UK political class,” Dr Peter Clegg said, adding that perhaps a review of relations is appropriate, one which would “offer the Territories more autonomy, address the UN’s decolonization agenda, and give the Territories a stronger foreign policy voice.”
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 09:28 UTC
Falklands' penguin series of coins features the Rockhopper in full color

The government and treasury of the Falkland Islands have issued the fifth and final coin which is part of an overall five-coin set featuring one of the planet’s most curious and unique species of bird, the penguin.
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 09:06 UTC
Falklands retail prices increased 3% over the last twelve months

The Falkland Islands retail price index (RPI) increased by 3% over the last 12 months, the Standing Finance Committee was told this week. The hike is principally down to an increase in the cost of fuel and power (excluding fuel for transport), which led to a 1.6% increase in the index, and food and non-alcoholic beverages, which further raised it by 1.1%.
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 09:01 UTC
S&P lowers Italy's outlook to negative; criticizes Rome's economic and fiscal policies

Standard & Poor’s on Friday left Italy’s sovereign debt rating unchanged but lowered its outlook to negative from stable, saying that the new government’s policy plans were weighing on the country’s growth and debt prospects.
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 08:56 UTC
Sunday regional vote in Germany could decide survival of a weakened Merkel coalition

A Sunday regional election in Germany is closely scrutinized since the ruling coalition's survival much hangs upon the outcome of a state vote. Even before the first voters set foot in Hesse's polling stations, it is widely accepted that what happens in Hesse will have consequences in Berlin. For the German government and perhaps even for the German leader herself.
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 08:46 UTC
Abbot Laboratories will pay US$ 25 million for bribing doctors to prescribe TriCor

Abbot Laboratiories AbbVie Inc will pay a total of US$25 million to resolve allegations that Abbott paid kickbacks to doctors in exchange for prescribing the cholesterol drug TriCor and promoted the medication for unapproved purposes.
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 08:46 UTC
Ex Civil Service chief calls for a referendum as only option to a 'disastrous' Brexit

A former head of the Civil Service has backed the call for a people’s vote on Brexit as the only viable option after “disastrous” exit negotiations. Independent crossbencher Lord Kerslake said he had moved from being skeptical about holding a second referendum to joining last Saturday’s march in support of it.
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 08:39 UTC
A no Brexit deal will slow sharply UK economic growth, says think tank

A no-deal Brexit could slam the brakes on the UK’s economic growth, wiping out Chancellor Philip Hammond’s hopes of boosting public spending, a think tank has said. If the UK fails to reach a withdrawal deal with the EU and moves on to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules next March, GDP growth can be expected to slow sharply from 1.4% this year to 0.3% in both 2019 and 2020, said the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr).
Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 08:35 UTC
Shale gas fracking suspended in UK following an earthquake

Operations have been suspended at the UK's only active shale gas fracking site following an earthquake - just 11 days after it was given the go ahead. Energy firm Cuadrilla said it would halt fracking at the Lancashire site for 18 hours after a tremor of 0.8 magnitude was recorded.