International

Monday, May 25th 2015 - 07:21 UTC
Mexico compensates China for cancelling high-speed rail contract

Mexico will compensate China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) $1.31m for cancelling a $3.75bn high-speed rail contract. CRCC was at the head of a consortium that had won the project last year, which was abruptly revoked shortly after being awarded.
Monday, May 25th 2015 - 07:12 UTC
Iconic London 2012 Games symbol decorates Rio 2016 Olympics Park

The most iconic symbol of the Olympic Games is decorating the city for the Rio 2016 Games. City Hall has installed giant Olympic Rings in Madureira Park, ahead of the largest sporting event in the world.
Monday, May 25th 2015 - 06:55 UTC
FIFA Election: ITUC back Prince Ali on human rights commitments

The International trade Union Confederation is calling on FIFA delegates to support Jordan’s Prince Ali in this week’s election for FIFA President, following Ali’s re-affirmed commitment on labour and other human rights. The other two challengers to incumbent Joseph Blatter, Luis Figo and Michael van Praag have withdrawn from the race.
Monday, May 25th 2015 - 06:46 UTC
Gibraltarians will be able to vote in UK's referendum on ties with European Union

Gibraltarians will be able to vote in Britain’s referendum on whether to sever ties with the European Union. The franchise for referendum, promised by Prime Minister David Cameron by the end of 2017, will be based on that for a UK general election - meaning Irish, Maltese and Cypriots resident in the UK will get a vote, but other EU citizens will not.
Monday, May 25th 2015 - 06:25 UTC
Bachelet underlines close economic and political ties of Chile with China

Chile and China have enjoyed a positive and fruitful relationship and bilateral ties will further develop very strongly in the future, anticipated Chilean President Michelle Bachelet during an interview with Xinhua prior to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit
Monday, May 25th 2015 - 06:20 UTC
Li Keqiang in Chile pledges to lift strategic partnership to a new height

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Santiago on Sunday for an official visit to Chile, the first South American country with which China forged diplomatic ties (1970) and also the first Latin American nation with which China signed a free trade agreement.
Sunday, May 24th 2015 - 08:13 UTC
Obama and Putin congratulate Cristina Fernandez and Argentina on 25 May, National Day

US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have sent letters to President Cristina Fernández to salute the head of state and congratulate the Argentine people on the anniversary of the May Revolution.
Saturday, May 23rd 2015 - 10:27 UTC
China and Peru agree to study feasibility of transcontinental railroad

China and Peru have agreed to study the feasibility of a controversial 5,300 km transcontinental railroad that will connect Peru's Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic coast, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Saturday, May 23rd 2015 - 10:17 UTC
On St Helena Day, 21 May 2016, begins air link of the island with South Africa

British Overseas Territory St Helena only link with the outside world, currently by sea, will be coming to an end in May 2016, when the proposed official opening of the airport which is being built by South African contractors, will be taking place, according to the 12 May meeting of the island's Executive Council.
Friday, May 22nd 2015 - 10:21 UTC
El Niño could again disrupt global food markets later this year

A strong El Niño is likely to increase prices of staple foods such as rice, coffee, sugar and cocoa, say scientists. Forecasters agree that the El Niño effect, which can drive droughts and flooding, is under way in the tropical Pacific, but they say it is too early to say how severe it will be.