Stories for July 14th 2016

Thursday, July 14th 2016 - 07:50 UTC
EU warns former head Barroso about professional secrecy in his Goldman Sachs Brexit contract

The European Commission said its former head Jose Manuel Barroso will be bound by EU rules of professional secrecy at his controversial new job for US investment bank Goldman Sachs. The bank has hired Barroso, who headed the executive of the 28-nation European Union from 2004 until 2014, as an advisor on the British public's June 23 vote to leave the EU, drawing fire from leftist politicians in Europe.
Thursday, July 14th 2016 - 07:43 UTC
Petrobras tenth FPSO vessel in the pre-salt Santos Basin begins production

Petrobras declared the commencement of production from the Cidade de Saquarema floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel at the Lula oil field on Jul 8. The offshore oil field is situated in the pre-salt Santos Basin and most importantly, the Cidade de Saquarema unit is the tenth FPSO that is working in the pre-salt region of Brazil.
Thursday, July 14th 2016 - 07:38 UTC
Temer wins strong ally with Lower House new speaker; crucial to approve unpopular economic reforms

Brazil's lower house of Congress elected an ally of interim President Michel Temer as its new speaker late on Wednesday, marking a victory for a government racing to approve unpopular economic reforms. Rodrigo Maia of the right-leaning Democrats party, known as DEM, won the second round ballot by a wide margin in a hotly contested election.
Thursday, July 14th 2016 - 07:35 UTC
Lula says a six-vote swing is needed to beat Rousseff's impeachment in August

Brazil's suspended president Dilma Rousseff could still wriggle out of a looming impeachment vote, her ally and predecessor Lula da Silva said. Speaking with Radio Jornal, Brazil's most prominent leftist leader said Rousseff's case is not hopeless, despite months of mounting pressure on her to be removed from office.
Thursday, July 14th 2016 - 07:30 UTC
A third of commercial fish stocks fished at unsustainable levels, says FAO

Global per capita fish consumption has risen to above 20 kilograms a year for the first time, thanks to stronger aquaculture supply and firm demand, record hauls for some key species and reduced wastage, according to a new FAO report.
Thursday, July 14th 2016 - 07:27 UTC
Higher forecasts for wheat output and cereal consumption in 2016/17

FAO's Cereal Supply and Demand Brief pointed to improved production prospects primarily for wheat. Global wheat production is now pegged at 732 million tons, more than one percent higher than anticipated in June, mainly due to improved prospects in the EU, the Russian Federation and the U.S., as a result of better weather conditions.
Thursday, July 14th 2016 - 07:23 UTC
Food commodity prices shot up 4.2% in June, steepest in four years says FAO

International food commodity prices shot up 4.2% in June, their steepest monthly increase of the past four years. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 163.4 points in June and is now one percent below the level reached a year earlier. The June rise, which affected all commodity categories except vegetable oils, was the fifth consecutive monthly increase.
Thursday, July 14th 2016 - 03:54 UTC
May pledges to work “for all not just the privileged few”; Johnson foreign secretary and Hammond chancellor

New Prime Minister Theresa May has made Boris Johnson, the former London mayor who led the Brexit campaign, foreign secretary in her new government. He replaces Philip Hammond, who becomes chancellor and ex-Energy Secretary Amber Rudd is home secretary and Euro skeptic David Davis is the Brexit secretary. Ex-chancellor George Osborne was not included apparently because his “brand” was seen as “too tarnished”.