Stories for May 2011

Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 05:59 UTC
China’s inflation eases in April but food costs are scaring the Communist party

China's surging inflation eased slightly in April as Beijing tightened controls to cool its overheated economy. Consumer prices climbed 5.3% over a year earlier, driven by an 11.5% jump in food costs, data showed Wednesday.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 05:34 UTC
UK/France ratify Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty

UK Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox played host on Tuesday to his French counterpart in London to exchange the ratified Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty between the two countries.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 01:05 UTC
Argentine organized labour ignores CFK, blames corporate world for ‘conflicts’

Argentine organized labour blamed “businessmen in the corporate world” for the level of labour conflict in the country and demanded “more responsibility”. The statement follows on President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Tuesday’s suggestion that the umbrella union organization, CGT, should lower their levels of confrontation.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 00:58 UTC
China tourist group buys 20% stake in Spain’s NH Hotels chain

China's fourth-biggest airline group, HNA Group, has bought a 20% stake in leading Spanish hotel chain NH Hoteles for 431.6 million Euros, NH Hoteles said on Tuesday.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 00:48 UTC
EU/Mercosur trade talks remain at “technical level and delayed until end of the year”

Reports from the European Union and Mercosur confirm that negotiations for a trade agreement remain at ‘technical level’ and no information will be forthcoming until both sides have agreed on the lists of products to be exchanged.
Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 13:42 UTC
Interest in Falklands oil exploration “on the increase” at AAPG

INTEREST in the Falkland Islands, “is on the increase,” said Director of Mineral Resources Phyllis Rendell who recently attended the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) in Houston.
Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 08:10 UTC
IISS: cross-border sanctuaries have been key for the survival of Colombia’s FARC

The ability of Colombia’s largest insurgent group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC), to rely on cross-border sanctuaries has long been key to its survival, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 08:00 UTC
Chile will become first develop country in Latam, says world’s richest man

Chile will become the first developed country in Latin America, predicted Mexican communications mogul Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world, in an economic presentation given in Honduras last Thursday.
Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 07:52 UTC
Torres del Paine Park must double protected area to meet UNESCO latest criteria

Torres Del Paine National Park, in southern Chile’s Patagonia, is easily among the country’s most iconic natural attractions, hosting 170,000 tourists a year. Yet to maintain the park’s UNESCO classification as a biosphere reserve, Chile must greatly expand the protected areas to more than double the current boundaries.
Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 07:46 UTC
Brazil’s oil giant Petrobras the most valuable brand in Latin America

Brazil’s oil and gas corporation Petrobras was ranked first in a new listing of the most valuable brands in Latin America, with an estimated brand value of 13.4 billion US dollars.