24/09/2013 00:00
TW
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In the United States the latest official Poverty Rate index for 2010 showed that just over 15 percent of the population -- 46.2 million people -- was living below the poverty line. This was the highest figure since the index started 52 years ago. Meanwhile, a previously safe Democratic Congressional seat in New York was easily won by the Republicans. Opinion was divided on whether the vote was a protest against President Obama's performance or a reaction against the previous holder who had resigned after displaying obscene pictures on the internet.

The European Union extended the copyright in musical recordings from 50 to 70 years, thus including early songs by The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Abba.

Comparable copyright continues for 95 years in the United States.

Moody's, the American debt assessor which recently downgraded the United States' credit rating for the first time, turned its attention to two French banks, Societe Generala and Credit Agricole, and reported that they had insufficient capital to withstand the effect of a Greek default and withdrawal from the eurozone.