Stories for May 11th 2007
Political turmoil in Kirchner's province: third governor in 15 months
The governor of the Patagonia province of Santa Cruz resigned Thursday following three weeks of provincial employees and teachers' protests which have caused political chaos in Argentine President Nestor Kirchner's stronghold.
HMS Exeter at Falklands' war Barrow commemoration
Barrow in Furness shipyard expects 20.000 visitors for the Falkland Islands war 25 commemoration next month. The event will come off the back of the launch of the first “Astute” class submarine on Friday June 8, reports the northwest Evening Mail.
Chile to become Microsoft regional centre
Microsoft announced Wednesday that Santiago's Universidad Catolica de Chile (UC) will be the headquarters for the new Federation of Latin-American Universities for Innovation.
Bank of England raises interest rates to six year high, 5.5%
The Bank of England on Thursday raised interest rates by 25 basis points to a six-year high of 5.5% as expected. It's the fourth increase in nine months, lifting the benchmark interest rate to its highest level since April 2001.
US March trade deficit up but 2007 first quarter is down 5.7%
The United States trade deficit widened by more than expected in March, as higher oil and petrol prices sent imports to the second-highest level on record.
Concern with future of RN submarines Devonport Dockyard
British Members of Parliament from Devon are calling for an urgent meeting with the new owners of Devonport Dockyard to discuss the site's future. Engineering group Babcock International is buying the naval dockyard in Plymouth in a £350m deal.
Euro benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75%
The European Central Bank decided on Thursday's meeting, held in Dublin, to maintain the benchmark interest rate on hold at 3.75%. However many analysts believe ECB's “strong vigilance” could see rates rise as early as June to keep inflation in check.
Warnings of “speculation bubble” in Shanghai's stock market
China's booming A-share market could turn into a bubble if speculation among exuberant domestic retail investors is not curbed, Goldman Sachs warned Thursday, as the Shanghai Composite Index hit yet another intraday record high.
More “gas” to Falklands sovereignty dispute in UN climate conference
Argentina accused United Kingdom on Thursday of wrongly counting the Falkland Islands' greenhouse gases in its national data during a United Nations climate conference in Germany.
It's official: the Blair era comes to an end June 27
British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Thursday he will stand down on June 27. He made the announcement in a speech to party activists in his Sedgefield constituency, after earlier briefing the Cabinet on his plans.
