Stories for June 2008

Monday, June 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Maintaining the Queen costs 66 pence per person in the UK

The cost of maintaining the Queen rose by £2 million to £40 million last year. The 5.3% rise - twice the rate of inflation - was blamed by palace officials on increased maintenance costs on royal residences and higher travel costs, up £400,000 to £6.4 million.
Monday, June 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chinese agriculture seriously affected by Sichuan earthquake

Last month's earthquake in Sichuan, China, has caused some 6 billion US dollars in damage to the province's agricultural sector, severely affecting over 30 million people in rural communities, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday.
Monday, June 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mercosur: Brazil plans to address food crisis and social affairs

The global food crisis and strengthening the regional social agenda are the two main issues which Brazilian president Lula da Silva will address during the next six months when his country holds the rotating chair of Mercosur.
Saturday, June 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Member countries integrate 10 billion USD to the S. Bank

The South American country founders of the South (Development) Bank decided to integrate ten billion US dollar in capital to the budding institution out of an authorized total of 20 billion.
Saturday, June 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Spanish group planning to build several hotels in Chile

Spanish hotel giant Sol Melía plans to open three hotels in Chile. The company is also bidding for the two hotels that will be a part of Santiago's future Constanera Center, an ongoing development and construction project featuring four skyscrapers, built in one of Santiago's business districts, Providencia.
Saturday, June 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazilian inflation at its fastest pace in over five years

Brazil's monthly inflation accelerated to its fastest pace in more than five years on rising wholesale prices for manufacturers. The IGP-M price index, Brazil's broadest measure of consumer, construction and wholesale prices, rose 1.98% in June, up from a 1.61% surge in May, according to the Getulio Vargas Foundation.
Saturday, June 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mercosur agenda with long list of controversial issues

Productive integration for small and medium sized companies plus a special financing fund for that group of companies and a technological renovation plan are some of the main issues in the official agenda to be addressed by the coming Mercosur summit to be held in the Argentine province of Tucuman.
Saturday, June 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Paraguay headed for a record beef export year: 600 million USD

Paraguayan beef exports are scheduled to break all records reaching over 600 US dollars which represents a 25% jump over 2007 according to an article published in the country's “ABC Color”.
Saturday, June 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Crude record prices send global stock markets tumbling

Global stock markets have suffered a sell-off sparked by concerns about the global economy and crude oil prices which have hit a new record. New York's Dow Jones closed down 0.93%, or 106.9 points, at 11,346.51 as the cost of oil rose to a fresh high above $142 a barrel.
Saturday, June 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Colombia, Ecuador drop plans to restore diplomatic ties

Relations between Colombia and Ecuador grew chillier Tuesday, as Colombia postponed restoring diplomatic ties at the level of trade-attache because of “aggressive” remarks by Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa.