March 31, 2013
Virus keeps Trini PM away from Liberation Day celebrations
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar failed to show up at Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day celebrations held across the country yesterday because she was ill. Minister of National Diversity and Social Integration Clifton De Coteau took…
March 31, 2013
Nearly 70 per cent of Jamaica’s customers lost power
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) says nearly 70 per cent of its customers across the island lost their electricity supply in a major power outage this afternoon. JPS says it has already restored electricity to several areas, but up to…
March 31, 2013
Bahamas aiming to improve tourism
A digital platform which will give visitors the ability to search for airlift, car rentals and hotels in the Bahamas is among plans outlined by the BahamasTourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, as that country seek to impove the tousim product. Part…
March 31, 2013
Police uses tear gas in row at Brazil World Cup stadium
Police in Brazil have used tear gas and smoke grenades to break up clashes between fans who were trying to buy tickets for the inaugural match in a stadium built for the 2014 World Cup. The football fans had queued overnight at a ticket office…
March 31, 2013
Chile ex-president Bachelet to run for re-election
The former president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, has said she will run for a second mandate in the November poll. Mrs Bachelet became the first female president of Chile in 2006, serving out her term in 2010. She has spent the last three…
March 31, 2013
Bank of Cyprus big depositors could lose up to 60%
Bank of Cyprus depositors with more than 100,000 euros (£84,300; $128,200) could lose up to 60% of their savings as part of an EU-IMF bailout restructuring move, officials say. The central bank says 37.5% of holdings over 100,000 euros will…
March 31, 2013
US economy ekes out 0.4% growth in fourth quarter
The US economy grew at a faster than expected 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Department of Commerce has said. The annualised figure was better than an earlier estimate of 0.1% growth, reflecting increased investments in plant and…
March 31, 2013
S&P 500 index reaches record high
The S&P 500 index closed on Thursday night at a record high of 1,569, up 6 points or 0.4%. The last time it broke into new territory was on 9 October 2007 when it closed at 1,565. The Dow Jones index was also up 0.4%, with a rise of 52…
March 31, 2013
IMF ‘has confidence’ in Christine Lagarde
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said it continues to have "confidence" in its managing director Christine Lagarde. An IMF spokesman said the fund's board backed Ms Lagarde despite a French inquiry into alleged abuses of power. The…
March 31, 2013
Blackberry reports 1m Z10 sales
Mobile phone maker Blackberry says it has sold one million of its new Z10 smartphones. In better than expected results the company said it made profits of $98m (£65m) in the quarter, after posting a big loss for the same period last year. The…