LaNUBlog™

*. France, US - both 12% *. Italy, China - both 9% *. Germany - 8% *. UK, Russia - both 5% *. Spain, Argentina - both 4% *. Source: Morgan Stanley The report by Morgan Stanley's analysts Tom Kierath and Crystal Wang says global wine consumption has been rising since 1996 (except a drop in 2008-09), and presently stands at about 3bn cases per year. At the same time, there are currently more than one million wine producers worldwide, making some 2.8bn cases each year. The authors predict that - in the short term - "inventories will likely be reduced as current consumption continues to be predominantly supplied by previous vintages" And as consumption then inevitably turns to the 2012 vintage, the authors say they "expect the current production shortfall to culminate in a significant increase in export demand, and higher prices for exports globally". They say this could be partly explained by "plummeting production" in Europe due to "ongoin...

The Vatican has suspended a senior German Church leader dubbed the "bishop of bling" by the media over his alleged lavish spending. Bishop of Limburg Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst is accused of spending more than 31m euros (£26m; $42m) on renovating his official residence. The Vatican said it deemed "appropriate... a period of leave from the diocese" for the bishop. The suspension comes two days after he met the Pope to discuss the matter. "A situation has been created in which the bishop can no longer exercise his episcopal duties", a Vatican statement said. It said a Church commission would rule on the matter, but did not say where Bishop Tebartz-van Elst, 53, would go or what he would do while the inquiry was held. The head of Germany's main lay Catholic group, the Central Committee of German Catholics, Alois Glueck, welcomed the Vatican's decision. Analysis When Bishop Tebartz-van Elst flew into Rome last week it was reportedly on a Ryanai...

Peer Steinbrueck has worked with Mrs Merkel in government before Parties in Germany are pushing for every vote as polls suggest Angela Merkel may have to find a new coalition partner after Sunday's election. The chancellor's Christian Democrats are tipped to take the biggest share of the vote but their Free Democrat allies have seen their support tumble. Peer Steinbrueck, leader of the opposition Social Democrats, has sharpened his attacks on Mrs Merkel. At a rally in Berlin, he accused her of skirting the country's big challenges. If the Free Democrats (FDP) do badly, as expected, the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) may find themselves looking to other small parties to form a broader, more fragile coalition. Some analysts also see the possibility of a government led by Mrs Merkel which includes the Social Democrats (SPD), whose leader served as finance minister under Mrs Merkel in a previous grand coalition. The election is one of the most important in years because o...

Spain- Liga Adelante September 8 FT Deportivo La Coruna 0 - 1 Murcia FT Ponferradina 2 - 2 Sporting Gijon September 9 FT Eibar 1 - 0 Cordoba FT Real Jaen 3 - 1 Girona FT Real Madrid Castilla 0 - 1 Mirandes FT Tenerife 2 - 2 Barcelona B 03:00 Huelva ? - ? Hercules Germany- 3. Liga September 8, FT Stuttgart II 4 - 0 Burghausen FT Wehen 2 - 0 Duisburg. Netherlands- Jupiler League September 8 FT Willem II 2 - 0 Jong PSV FT Achilles 29 2 - 1 Jong Ajax FT Fort.Sittard 5 - 2 Helmond Sport. Belgium- Belgacom League September 8 FT CS Vise 0 - 1 RBD Borinage FT Geel 0 - 1 Aalst, Portugal- Segunda Liga September 8 FT Leixoes 1 - 0 Trofense FT Moreirense 2 - 1 Farense. September 9 FT Santa Clara 1 - 0 Oliveirense FT Tondela 2 - 0 Feirense FT Viseu 1 - 2 Chaves Denmark- NordicBet Ligaen September 8 FT Hvidovre 1 - 4 AC Horsens FT Vendsyssel FF 1 - 0 AB FT Fredericia 2 - 5 Lyngby. Norway- 1st Division September 8 FT Hødd 2 - 1 Bodø/Glimt FT Ranheim 1 - 1 Kris...