International

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 18:25 UTC

  ECB stimuli bond-purchase to begin next Monday, announces Dragui

  

  Following a meeting of the European Central Bank's rate-setting Governing Council in Cyprus on Thursday, ECB president Mario Draghi said the bank would start buying sovereign bonds from Euro zone countries on Monday next week.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 18:21 UTC

  China lowers 2015 growth estimate to 7%; in 2014 expansion was the slowest in 24 years

  

  Shares in China fell after the country's government set its official growth target at 7% for this year. The rate is lower than last year's target of 7.5%, which China missed after it grew at the slowest pace in 24 years. The Shanghai Composite closed down 1% at 3,248.48, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.1% lower at 24,193.04.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 11:58 UTC

  One of the mightiest of WW2 battleships discovered 70 years after it was sunk

  

  American billionaire Paul Allen has announced the discovery of the famous World War Two Japanese battleship, the Musashi, more than 70 years after it was sunk by US forces. Mr, Allen said the vessel was found by his private exploration team. It was at a depth of more than 1km on the floor of the Sibuyan Sea off the Philippines.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 07:52 UTC

  South Atlantic Air-bridge to the Falklands restricted to certain nationalities

  

  The South Atlantic Air-bridge linking RAF Brize Norton in the UK with the Falkland Islands will no longer fly nationals from a list of countries and although no specific reasons were given, the release underlines that the “Ministry of Defense places the greatest importance on the security of its people, facilities and operations”.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 07:45 UTC

  Hammond reiterates Conservative commitment to Gibraltar's self determination

  

  The Conservative Government will never discuss the future of Gibraltar’s sovereignty against the wishes of its people, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told the House of Commons this week.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 07:42 UTC

  UK and Mexico sign memorandum to further expand and finance trade

  

  The UK and Mexico signed in London a memorandum to further support trade and markets, and advance cooperation between the two countries export promotion organizations, UK Export Finance and Bancomext, Mexican Trade Development Bank.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 07:32 UTC

  PM Cameron and Peña Nieto discuss agenda of bilateral and global issues

  

  British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed President Peña Nieto of Mexico to Downing Street on Thursday afternoon as part of his State Visit to the UK.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 07:27 UTC

  Chilean researchers invited to UK sponsored Engineering innovation program

  

  The United Kingdom Newton-Picarte Fund supported Chilean researchers to participate in the Royal Academy of Engineering's innovation program. Under the Leaders Innovation Fellowships scheme, 15 Chilean researchers, who are already VIU CONICYT grant receivers, travelled to London and Oxford to attend a 10 day residential program.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 07:06 UTC

  UK leaves interest rates unchanged at record low 0.5% for six years

  

  UK interest rates have been kept unchanged again by the Bank of England, meaning they have now been at their record low of 0.5% for six years. Rates were first cut to 0.5% in March 2009 as the Bank sought to lift economic growth amid the credit crunch.

• Friday, March 6th 2015 - 06:56 UTC

  Argentine central bank chairman defends the 50-peso Malvinas bill

  

  Argentina's Central Bank Governor Alejandro Vanoli defended the new 50-peso banknote which features the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, after it was belittled by the a minister of state at the British Foreign Office.