International

• Thursday, September 12th 2013 - 00:37 UTC

  Tourism New Zealand picks Sao Paulo as base for Latin American activity

  

  Tourism New Zealand will open a new office in Sao Paulo, Brazil to serve as the base of its new Latin American activity. The announcement was made by Prime Minister John Key and the Minister of Tourism, at the Latin American Business Council lunch this week.

• Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 23:49 UTC

  Chilean delegates at corruption-prevention forum in Panama partly financed by the Foreign Office

  

  Chilean delegates are attending a regional forum to discuss techniques for tackling corruption and collusion in Latin American procurement taking place in Panama City. The conference is a joint initiative of the UK Foreign Office, several Panama government offices and a regional Central America body established by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

• Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 23:42 UTC

  UK distributes LIBOR fines paid by banks among military charities

  

  Almost £2.5 million to go to the British armed forces community, including those currently serving, veterans and families. Armed forces charities and good causes are to benefit from the latest tranche of funding from the £35 million Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) Fund, the government has announced.

• Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 00:59 UTC

  “We will never concede one drop of our waters to Spain”, pledged Picardo on Gibraltar Day

  

  By Jim Watt - The Gibraltar National Day political rally organised by the Self-Determination Group for Gibraltar (SDGG) was held at Casemates square on Tuesday. On stage were local politicians, including the leader of the opposition, heads and representatives of other British Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands, British MP's from all parties and Mr Perry Stieglitz Gibraltar's man in the US.

• Wednesday, September 11th 2013 - 00:57 UTC

  Good news from China: manufacturing, retail sales and investment up in August

  

  China's industrial production increased by more than expected in August the latest sign that the world's second-largest economy may be on the mend. According to data released on Tuesday factory output climbed 10.4% from a year earlier. Retail sales and fixed asset investment also rose during the month.

• Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 23:04 UTC

  US and UK dominate top twenty of QS World University Ranking of 2013

  

  United States colleges and universities have once again dominated the QS World University Rankings of 2013 with six prestigious institutions featuring in the top 10. The remaining four places have been occupied by British universities.

• Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 22:59 UTC

  Bank of England planning polymer notes; five pound featuring Churchill expected in 2016

  

  The Bank of England is moving closer to ditching paper pounds and switching to plastic banknotes instead. It would follow in the footsteps of Australia, Canada and others. The central bank said it would ask the public its opinion before taking a decision in December on whether to adopt polymer pounds which also would be smaller than current notes.

• Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 22:52 UTC

  Germany’s Thomas Bach with a long career in Olympic affairs elected IOC president

  

  Thomas Bach was elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The German became only the ninth president in the body's 119-year history after succeeding Belgium's Jacques Rogge who stepped down after 12 years at the helm.

• Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 17:42 UTC

  London hosts Chile Day 2013 with praise for close friendship dating back centuries

  

  Britain celebrated at Mansion House in London Chile Day 2013, September 10, with Minister of State for the Foreign Office Hugo Swire as the main speaker. This year’s event was attended by the Lord Mayor, Chilean Finance Minister Felipe Larrain and numerous participants.

• Tuesday, September 10th 2013 - 17:35 UTC

  Royal Navy frigates to be equipped with Sea Ceptor air defense missiles

  

  A new British naval air defense system that can intercept and destroy enemy missiles is to be manufactured in the UK under a £250 million contract. Sea Ceptor, which will be fitted to the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates and, in future, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, is a cutting-edge missile designed and built by MBDA.