Stories for May 2013

Monday, May 13th 2013 - 04:03 UTC
Two Tory ministers prepared to vote for Britain to leave the EU

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has become the second cabinet minister to say he would vote for Britain to leave the EU if a referendum were held now. But, like education secretary Michael Gove, he said David Cameron must be given a chance to bring powers back from Brussels before deciding.
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 10:35 UTC
UK ambassador praises Chilean judicial system in case involving death of British citizen in 1973

This week a Chilean court found two retired naval officers guilty in connection with the kidnapping, torture and murder of a Chilean-British citizen in September 1973; UK Ambassador Jon Benjamin made a statement about the verdicts in trial of those accused.
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 10:26 UTC
HMS Protector back in Portsmouth after a successful nine-month Antarctica deployment

HMS Protector, the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship, has returned to Portsmouth at the end of a nine-month deployment to the ‘Frozen Continent’. Operating in the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands throughout the Austral Summer, the ship conducted three intensive work periods in the ice, and a fourth work period in the waters surrounding South Georgia.
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 05:50 UTC
Argentina’s whitewashing bill could attract “around 5 billion dollars”

The head of Argentina’s Lower House Budget and Finance Committee and former Finance minister Roberto Feletti said that the whitewashing bill should allow the entrance of “around 5 billion dollars” into Argentina’s market. For the MP, the government is “fighting a historic battle to block” what he called a “market coup.”
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 05:49 UTC
Argentina’s ‘blue dollar’ yields on expectations but still above 10 Pesos

The so called ‘blue dollar’ traded in Argentina’s parallel market ended on Friday just above 10 Pesos after having reached record highs earlier in the week (10.55 Pesos) and following the Thursday announcement of a tax amnesty bill and other ‘whitewashing’ financial instruments.
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 05:47 UTC
Argentine government insists a ‘blue dollar’ at 6.50 Pesos is the target

Argentina’s Secretary of Domestic Commerce Guillermo Moreno wants to bring the foreign exchange black market ‘back in line’ using new dollar securities the government plans to issue locally as part of a major tax amnesty plan, according to Alfredo Piano, Chairman of Banco Piano SA.
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 05:43 UTC
Spain received Queen’s message on Gibraltar and Falklands with “surprise and considerable discomfort”

Jose Ignacio Landaluce, the ruling Spanish Popular Party MP and Mayor of Algeciras, said that the Queen’s message of support for Gibraltar (and Falklands) was greeted with “surprise and considerable discomfort” in Spain. His was the only reaction from any Spanish official to a statement that was warmly welcomed in Gibraltar.
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 05:40 UTC
Brazil raises 800million dollars in bond sales: 750m in US and EU; 50m in Asia

Brazil succeeded in selling 50 million US dollars worth of dollar-denominated government bonds in Asian markets on Friday, the Treasury Department announced.
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 05:39 UTC
FIFA concerned over the construction of World Cup stadiums in Brazil

FIFA has revealed its concern over the construction of six World Cup stadiums ahead of next year's finals in Brazil. A second test event at Rio's redeveloped Maracana stadium was recently canceled, heightening fears over the readiness of arenas across the country for this summer's Confederations Cup.
Saturday, May 11th 2013 - 05:36 UTC
Global food prices increased for third month running in April pushed by dairy costs

Global food prices rose in April for a third straight month as surging dairy costs kept upward pressure on the FAO index, but cereal output is expected to be strong this year. Food prices spiked during the summer of 2012 as the United States was hit by a severe drought and dry weather plagued other producers. After falling at the start of 2013, prices have been rising again in the past three months