International

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:23 UTC

  FIFA slams Brazil’s slow pace of preparation for the 2014 World Cup

  

  Brazil's slow pace of preparation for the 2014 World Cup has come under attack from FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke. Stadium development plus work on airports and the transport system are lagging well behind schedule.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:15 UTC

  Malaysia’ AirAsia sings 18.5bn USD contract for 200 A320neo

  

  Malaysia’s AirAsia signed an 18.5 billion US dollars landmark deal for 200 A320neo Airbus, with an option for another 100, making AirAsia the biggest airline customer for the European corporations for the single-aisle product line worldwide.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 21:58 UTC

  Croatia become the European Union 28th member; final ratification June 2013

  

  European Union leaders said Croatia is ready to become the bloc’s 28th member, signalling peace in the Balkan region.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 20:15 UTC

  Krugman: “when Argentina tried to act as a serious country, it was “a disaster”

  

  Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman took to his blog in the New York Times to say he didn’t see how Argentina’s default could be seen as a cautionary tale for Greece, and questioned a local economist who assured Argentina was not considered “a serious country.”

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 19:02 UTC

  Upgraded HMS Illustrious is converted to helicopter and commando carrier

  

  The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious has begun sea trials following a £40m maintenance and upgrade program. 'Lusty' left Rosyth after 16 months during which she was converted into a helicopter and commando carrier, and should return to the fleet at the end of July.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 18:33 UTC

  China readies its first carrier, “a symbol of a great nation”

  

  Chinese military officials have confirmed that the country is completing work on its first aircraft carrier, based on the hull of Russian carrier Varyag.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 11:07 UTC

  Britain says Brazil has the best science base outside the G8

  

  The UK said that Brazil has the best science base outside the G8, and Brazil’s state-controlled oil and gas giant Petrobras CEO Jose Sergio Gabrielli predicted that his country will shortly become the world's largest market for deep offshore oceanic hydrocarbon exploration equipment.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 10:59 UTC

  Brazil and Spain, leading candidates for next head of FAO

  

  Brazilian and Spanish candidates are leading the field for the Sunday June 26 upcoming election for the next head of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, the UN agency leading the struggle against global hunger.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 00:02 UTC

  Russian meats market paralyzed; Uruguay and Brazil exports affected

  

  The Russian market which has been the main buyer of Uruguayan beef helping to boost cattle prices has virtually ceased operations according to Uruguayan exporters who claim deals are limited to small shipments of livers and tongues.

• Thursday, June 23rd 2011 - 23:19 UTC

  Release of strategic reserves (to counter Libya’s absence) rattles world oil market

  

  Oil rose in New York, recovering from a plunge sparked by an International Energy Agency announcement that its members will release crude from strategic reserves.