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GSK negotiating sale of thrombosis drug and plant to Aspen

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:20:31 -0400

DURBAN / LONDON - South Africa's biggest generic drug maker Aspen Pharmacare and its subsidiary Aspen Global Incorporated have made an offer to acquire thrombosis drugs and their associated manufacturing site at Notre Dame de Bondeville, France, from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). "AGI will acquire from GSK the Arixtra and Fraxiparine/Fraxodi brands and business worldwide, except in China, Pakistan ...

Real Madrid offer €155m deal to keep Ronaldo

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:32:06 -0400

Madrid are in advanced talks with Ronaldo's representatives over a deal totalling around EUR155 million over five years, with the Portuguese forward set to earn EUR15m annually after tax in what will be the most lucrative contract in the history of the game. Ronaldo, who has scored 201 goals in just 199 games in his four seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, raised alarm bells on Thursday when ...

As G8 wraps up Cameron sends surprising tweet

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:28:44 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Matt Cardy, Pool - British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks during a media conference at the G-8 summit at the Lough Erne golf resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday, June ...

Gun control opponents will pay a price’

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:22:59 -0400

Vice President Joe Biden (Fernando Vergara/AP) Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday, seeking to revive efforts to pass gun-reform legislation in Congress, warned lawmakers opposed to reform that Americans aren't on their side. "The country has changed" since the deadly shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Biden said during remarks delivered on Tuesday ...

Thiago Hat-Trick Leads Spain to Euro Under-21 Crown

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:20:18 -0400

JERUSALEM ...

Iraqi suicide bombers hit Baghdad mosque kill 34

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:32:13 -0400

Umm Satta grieves for her slain college student son, Sattar Jabbar, near Habib al-Asadi Shiite mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside and near the Shiite mosque, Iraqi officials said. Most of the casualties were among students from a nearby Imam al-Sadiq University for Islamic Studies. Police officials said the university's Shiite ...

Syrian warplanes strike rebel posts in Aleppo

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:19:10 -0400

By BARBARA SURKAssociated Press BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian warplanes struck rebel positions near a besieged military air base and other rebel-held areas in the country's north Tuesday as regime forces stepped up attacks against opposition fighters in the key province of Aleppo, activists said. Rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad have for months been trying to take Kweiras and two ...

NSA leaker no villain to some Americans

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:15:50 -0400

Edward Snowden performed a public service in leaking information about NSA programs, say 60 percent of Americans age 18 to 29, according to a poll. Tea partyers and liberals also ...

FBI offers reward for information on 2008 Times Square bomber

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:15:49 -0400

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department announced an award on Tuesday of up to $65,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect or suspects behind the unsolved 2008 bombing of the U.S. Army Forces Recruiting Station in Times ...

U.S. Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:58:42 -0400

After months of delays, the Taliban opened a political office in the Qatari capital of Doha, paving the way for talks to begin. The decision was a reversal of months of failed efforts to start peace talks while Taliban militants intensified a campaign targeting urban centers and government ...

FOREX-Dollar gains on yen ahead of Fed euro gains on data

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:41:32 -0400

* Markets wait for Fed to clarify stimulus stance * Bernanke expected to soothe market fears * Euro hits 4-month high vs dollar after German data By Wanfeng Zhou NEW YORK, June 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar rose on Tuesday against the yen for a second straight session as some traders bet the Federal Reserve may signal it is almost ready to reduce its bond buying program aimed at propping up the ...

Alcantara hat trick leads Spain to Euro Under-21 crown

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:26:23 -0400

Spain's Thiago Alcantara celebrates after he scored a goal against Italy during their European Under-21 Championship final soccer match at Teddy Kollek Stadium in Jerusalem June 18, 2013. (BAZ ...

World stocks firm dollar slips against euro as markets await Fed

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:13:36 -0400

By Leah Schnurr NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. equities pushed higher on Tuesday as investors grew more confident that the Federal Reserve would temper its recent statements on the future reduction of U.S. monetary support, while still pointing to economic improvement. The dollar was down 0.2 percent ...

G-8 advances on Syrian peace talks tax evasion

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:01:45 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) -- President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other G-8 leaders took a united stance Tuesday on seeking a negotiated Syrian peace settlement to forge a "united, inclusive and democratic" government - but couldn't agree on whether this means President Bashar Assad must ...

25-billion-euro roads project among Merkel election pledges draft

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:52:27 -0400

BERLIN (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives plan to woo voters with family-friendly promises and infrastructure spending worth tens of billions of euros in elections three months from now, said a draft policy manifesto seen Tuesday.Aside from pledges not to raise taxes, to boost the economy and to slash public debt, the party would also extend tax breaks for families with ...

EU mismanaging €1bn Egypt aid - report

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:55:19 -0400

The European Union is failing to ensure that hundreds of millions of euros in aid to Egypt is used effectively and to make the Islamist government tackle corruption and human rights abuses, a European Court of Auditors report ...

EUs 1 bn euro aid to Egypt ineffective

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:49:38 -0400

Catherine Ashton of the EU with Egypt's Mohamed Kamel Amr at an aid deal signing ceremony in Cairo last November. A billion euros of EU aid channelled to Egypt before and after the January 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's reign failed to improve human rights and governance, or reduce corruption, auditors said ...

Britains FTSE rises as traders buy beaten-down banks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:40:19 -0400

* Lower house votes against debate* Government warns of pending U.S. indictments* Bern scrambles to limit potential damage if bill rejected* More than a dozen banks under investigation* Bill referred back to upper house for debate, voteBy Katharina BartZURICH, June 18 (Reuters) - Switzerland's lower house ...

UPDATE 1-Euro zone must agree bank recaps on Thursday - EUs Rehn

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:34:10 -0400

Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:34pm EDT * ESM bank recap rules still need to be agreed by ministers * Rehn confident French pension reform will be ambitious PARIS, June 18 (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers must hammer out an agreement at a meeting later this week over how to recapitalise banks, the European Union's top economic official said on Tuesday. The bloc's leaders agreed in June 2012 ...

FTSE to rise 6 percent by year end

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:11:35 -0400

Reuters © A worker shelters from the rain as he passes the London Stock Exchange in the City of London at lunchtime October 1, 2008. REUTERS/Toby ...

U.S. to resume talks with Taliban

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:53:08 -0400

The end of the beginning ," the White House on Tuesday announced plans for direct talks with Afghanistan's Taliban militia, but cautioned against expecting any quick breakthrough that might speed the end of America's longest war. Among the likely items on the agenda: The return of U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, held captive by the Taliban-allied Haqqani network since 2009. ...

US and Taliban to start talks in Qatar office

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:53:07 -0400

war in Afghanistan as the Islamic militant movement opened an office in Qatar. American officials with the Obama administration said the office in the Qatari capital of Doha was the first step toward the ultimate U.S.-Afghan goal of a ...

Emerging Markets Concerns Take Hold as Signs of Stability Boost Eurozone

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:41:17 -0400

But while allocations to the eurozone and U.S. rose, investment in global emerging market equities fell to their lowest since December 2008. A net 9 percent of asset allocators are now underweight emerging market equities - the first underweight reading since 2009 and down from a net 3 percent overweight reading last month. Investors now identify a China hard landing as the greatest tail risk - ...

European Union Audit Criticizes Foreign Aid Program

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:27:25 -0400

BRUSSELS ...

Germanys Peter ruled out of Womens EURO

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:05:15 -0400

"I'm unbelievably disappointed," said Germany defender Babett Peter after she became the sixth player to be ruled out of her side's UEFA Women's EURO 2013 campaign through ...

Demonstrators flood Brazilian streets in protest

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:58:12 -0400

Protesters massed in four Brazilian cities Monday in what they hoped would be their biggest demonstrations yet against a hike in public transport fares, stoking fears of more clashes with police and raising questions about security during big events like the current Confederations Cup and a papal visit next ...

G-8 and beyond The world according to Obama

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:56:40 -0400

President Barack Obama meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Monday, June 17, 2013. Obama and Putin discussed the ongoing conflict in Syria during their bilateral ...

UniCredit Among European Banks Needing More Capital ICV Says

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:52:06 -0400

UniCredit SpA (UCG), Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (ISP) and Commerzbank AG (CBK) are among banks in Europe most susceptible to stress because they didn't deleverage enough, according to a study by Switzerland's Independent Credit View. The rating company found that 25 banks in Germany, Italy, Spain, the ...

US to begin meetings with Taliban

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:46:20 -0400

political office Tuesday in Doha as a stepping stone to full Taliban renouncement of al-Qaida. In Doha, a Qatari official confirmed that the Taliban office was open. The administration officials say the U.S. and Taliban representatives will hold bilateral meetings, then it is expected that Afghan President Hamid Karzai's High Peace Council will follow up with its own talks a few days ...

Taliban to open office for peace talks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:46:13 -0400

Zabiullah Mujahid , said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the group opposes the use of Afghan soil to threaten other countries and supports the negotiating process. Those two statements have been a key demand of both the U.S. and Afghan governments before talks can begin. There have been unconfirmed reports that the Doha office opening will be announced in the Gulf ...

European Commission holds minting of Slovakian euro bearing images of saints

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:35:16 -0400

The European Commission has ordered the National Bank of Slovakia not to mint new euros that would feature images of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the New York Times reports. Each member-state within the European Union has the authority to mint its own versions of the euro, incorporating its own national designs. But the European Commission ruled that the Slovakian design, hailing the 1,150th ...

Bombing at Pakistani funeral kills 27

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:55:53 -0400

PESHAWAR, Pakistan -; A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of hundreds of mourners attending a funeral in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing 27 people. Among those killed was a newly-elected lawmaker who may have been the target, authorities ...

G8 Deal on tax and money-laundering reached

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:49:13 -0400

Northern Ireland .It is hoped that international agreement on new rules will make it more difficult to set up companies in offshore tax havens which carry out no business activities but are used to conceal the ultimate owners of taxable assets.Following discussions with the leaders of the G8 countries - the UK, US, France, Germany, ...

New Issue-Commerzbank prices 500 mln euro 2018 bond

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:23:28 -0400

June 18 | Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:23am EDT June 18 (Reuters) -Following are terms and conditions of a bond priced on Tuesday. Borrower Commerzbank AG Issue Amount 500 million ...

Protection against post-QE euro stocks swings still cheap

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:04:11 -0400

Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:04am EDT * Volatility expected to increase as end of QE3 nears * VSTOXX jumped to more than twice current level after QE2 * Cost of options rise most for June expiry, cheaper later By David Brett LONDON, June 18 (Reuters) - Demand has risen for short-term protection against European share price swings but investors can still insure relatively cheaply against the volatility ...

Euro zone single supervision launch may face three-month delay

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:54:15 -0400

Reuters © Pedestrians walk towards the (L-R) Irish, Greek, Spanish and French national flags outside the European Parliament in Brussels May 3, 2013. REUTERS/Francois ...

Russia G-8 declaration wont mention Assads fate

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:51:45 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland -; A senior Russian diplomat says the G-8 summit's joint statement on ending the Syrian civil war will not mention whether Bashar Assad must step down from power as part of any peace ...

Intel chief Lawmakers demanding more info on NSA

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:51:43 -0400

WASHINGTON -; The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said Tuesday lawmakers are worried about the possibility of further disclosures about the government's sweeping electronic surveillance and the impact that could have on efforts to combat ...

Financials leads UKs FTSE higher

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:45:37 -0400

- Britain's top share index rose on Tuesday, aided by broker upgrades for some of its financial heavyweights in cautious trade ahead of a meeting of the US Federal Reserve. The FTSE 100 was up 46.26 points, or 0.7 percent, at 6,376.75 by 12:24 Sa time, with financials, which include banks, asset managers and insurers, contributing 24 points to the advance. HSBC rose 2.2 percent, alone ...

Easing of Slump Wont Halt Euros Decline

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:41:58 -0400

Euro Zone Faces Make-or-Break Summer ) The euro has largely been a story of reverse diversification in foreign currency, he said. The recent fall in emerging market currencies has meant reserve managers are accumulating fewer dollar reserves to diversify into euros, with China making clear that they want fewer reserves in the first pace, he said. "The euro could well finish the year weaker ...

Lucrative Stud Career Awaits Animal Kingdom

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:41:57 -0400

He's the favourite to win at Tuesday's Royal Ascot race in Britain, but a victory could also make Animal Kingdom the most popular horse among the ladies - literally. The thoroughbred, who has already won this year's Dubai World Cup and the 2011 Kentucky Derby, will retire at the end of the race, and his owners plan to use him as a stud to breed new race horses. John Messara, ...

Euro briefly extends gains vs dollar after U.S. data

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:40:50 -0400

NEW YORK, June 18 | Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:40am EDT NEW YORK, June 18 (Reuters) - The euro briefly extended its gains versus the dollar while the dollar hit a session peak versus the yen on Tuesday after data showed U.S. housing starts rose less than expected and consumer prices climbed in May. The euro rose as high as $1.3398 after the data, matching the previous session high, before paring ...

Charles Saatchi admits assault on celebrity chef wife Nigella Lawson

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:34:59 -0400

Prominent British art collector Charles Saatchi has admitted assault and accepted a police caution after published photos showed him grasping the throat of his wife, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson. (Lionel Cironneau/Associated ...

Suicide bombers target Baghdad mosque killing 24

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:12:22 -0400

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside and near a Shiite mosque in Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 24 people and wounding 52, Iraqi officials ...

Intel chief NSA foiled dozens of terrorist plots

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:48:07 -0400

WASHINGTON -; The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee says it appears the much-criticized national electronic surveillance program foiled "dozens" of terrorist ...

Massive protests hit Brazils biggest cities

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:37:20 -0400

São Paulo - More than one hundred thousand demonstrators marched through the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities yesterday in a growing protest movement that is tapping into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption. The marches blocked streets and halted traffic in at least cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, ...

Afghan presidents forces take over for NATO

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:32:39 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Allauddin Khan - FILE - In this Thursday, June 13, 2013 file photo, Afghan National Army soldiers stand in position, in the Sangin district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan. ...

Karzai Afghan troops take lead to secure country

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:32:38 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Rahmat Gul - Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, left, shakes hands with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen during a ceremony at a military academy on the outskirts of Kabul, ...

Recovery in financials leads Britains FTSE higher

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:14:34 -0400

* FTSE 100 rises 0.7 percent* HSBC, RSA benefit from analyst upgrades* Financials set to benefit if Fed continues easing* Charts point to possible "head and shoulders" patternBy Alistair SmoutLONDON, June 18 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index ...

G-8 summit turns focus to clampdown on tax-dodging

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:08:44 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) -- Leaders from eight of the world's wealthiest countries spent the final hours of their summit Tuesday focusing how to make sure that multinational companies can no longer rely on shelters and loopholes to avoid paying the tax they ...

UPDATE 1-Commerzbank to shed more than 5000 jobs source

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:56:54 -0400

Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:56am EDT * Commerzbank strikes preliminary pact with labour-sources * Job losses form part of cost plan announced in November * Cuts amount to 10 percent of workforce (Adds comments from more sources, previous cutback plans) FRANKFURT, June 18 (Reuters) - German lender Commerzbank will shed more than 5,000 jobs, 10 percent of its workforce, under a preliminary deal with staff ...

3-mth euro Libor fixes at 0.13071 pct dlr 0.27225 pct

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:51:18 -0400

LONDON, June 18 | Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:51am EDT LONDON, June 18 (Reuters) - The British Bankers' Association released the following London Interbank Offered Rates (Libor) for dollars, euro and sterling at its daily fixing. The spread of three-month Libor rates over three-month OIS rates, calculated from Reuters' data, expresses the three-month premium paid over anticipated ...

Ashton signs €4 million agreement with Iraq

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:42:12 -0400

During her recent visit to Iraq, EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton signed an agreement to make available 4 million euros of EU financing to fund the EU-Iraq Energy Centre. Following her visit, she has issued a statement stressing the need to establish peace and stability in the region and condemning the recent escalation of violence. As High Representative Ashton stated: "I stressed ...

With Samsung Jay-Zs business continues to boom

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:41:04 -0400

FILE - This May 1, 2013 file photo shows Jay-Z at "The Great Gatsby" world premiere at Avery Fisher Hall in New York. Jay-Z is teaming up with Samsung to release his new album, unveiling a three-minute commercial during the NBA Finals and announcing a deal that will give the music to 1 million users of Galaxy mobile phones. The new album, called Magna Carta Holy Grail, will be free ...

HSBC ETFs PLC FTSE 100 ETF - Net Asset Value

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:35:35 -0400

National Storage Mechanism Appointed by the FCA to act as the official mechanism for the storage of regulated information in the UK RNS Number : 2607H HSBC ETFs PLC FTSE 100 ETF 18 June 2013 Fund: HSBC FTSE 100 ETF Valuation Date ISIN Code Shares in Issue Currency Share Redeemed since Previous ...

Obama Putin to sign new deal on reducing nukes

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:29:33 -0400

Obama and Putin met privately at the G8 summit to talk about pressing security issues and agreed to work together to protect, control and account ...

New form of protest in Turkey standing silently

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:29:29 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Petr David Josek - Erdem Gunduz, centre, stands silently on Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, early Tuesday, June 18, 2013. After weeks of confrontation with police, sometimes violent, ...

German economy to pick up in H2 albeit slowly

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:15:49 -0400

economy to pick up speed in the second half of the year, albeit at a slow pace, the head of the ZEW think tank said on Tuesday. "The financial experts stick to their assessment: the German economy is likely to pick up speed in the second half of 2013," said ZEW president Clemens Fuest. "However, the results of the current survey indicate that the economy will improve rather ...

Raw 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:39:30 -0400

An estimated 100,000 demonstrators flooded the streets of eight different Brazilian cities, venting frustrations over poor transportation, health services, education and security despite heavy taxes. (June ...

UK Inflation Rebounds in May

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:31:05 -0400

British consumer price inflation rebounded by more than expected in May due to a record rise in air fares and higher fuel prices, raising questions about whether April's seven-month low was simply a blip. The Office for National Statistics said annual CPI rose to 2.7 percent in May from April's 2.4 percent, above economists' forecasts of 2.6 percent in a Reuters poll. ...

London Markets Whitbread HSBC help lift FTSE 100

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:16:35 -0400

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Shares of Whitbread PLC climbed in an upbeat U.K. market after it reported encouraging sales figures on Tuesday, while banking giant HSBC Holdings PLC rose after a broker ...

Obama Bernanke has ‘stayed a lot longer than planned’ as Fed boss

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:30:59 -0400

Mueller , the head of the FBI - where he's already stayed a lot longer than he wanted or he was supposed to," Obama said.Asked whether he would reappoint Bernanke if he wanted to keep the job, Obama did not answer directly."He has been an outstanding partner, along with the White House, in helping us recover much stronger than, for example, our European partners, from what could ...

ECBs Draghi Rates Becoming More Effective Again

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:27:08 -0400

European Central Bank is "ready to act" if need be to aid the euro zone economy and recent signs of market stabilization mean that its interest rates are becoming a more effective tool again. Speaking at a farewell conference for Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer in Jerusalem, Draghi said there were numerous measures the ECB could and would deploy if needed. The euro fell after ...

Siberia Could Be Russias Secret Economic Weapon

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:27:08 -0400

Once infamous as a place of exile and no-return during the Tsarist and then Stalinist eras, Siberia is being touted as a beacon of light by the Russian government as it looks east, rather than west, for growth ...

House takes up far-reaching anti-abortion bill

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:21:30 -0400

abortion wars return to Congress in a big way with House legislation to ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks. The legislation expected to pass the Republican-controlled House as early as Tuesday has no chance of becoming law in the near future: The Democratic-led Senate will ignore it and ...

House committee takes up tough immigration bill

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:21:28 -0400

border security proposal he hopes can win over support for sweeping immigration legislation under consideration there. The House enforcement bill, by ...

Reputed Mafioso tip triggers new Hoffa body search

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:21:27 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Carlos Osorio - Law enforcement officials block the street to the scene in Oakland Township, Mich., Monday, June 17, 2013 where officials search for the remains of Teamsters union ...

French officials face investigation into €403m Tapie payment

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:21:02 -0400

Nicolas Sarkozy have concluded that the payment was the result of a "sham arbitration" orchestrated by the lyse during Mr Sarkozy's term, according to records of court ...

Whitbread and HSBC lead UKs FTSE higher

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:01:56 -0400

* FTSE 100 up 0.1 pct* Whitbread rises 4 pct after higher Q1 sales* Citigroup upgrade boosts HSBC* Risky to add to FTSE positions at current levels -tradersBy Sudip Kar-GuptaLONDON, June 18 (Reuters) - Britain's benchmark equity ...

UKs FTSE slips as Fed uncertainty dents sentiment

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:01:53 -0400

Etisalat Teams try out for Pan-Euro Cycle challenge at TrainYas

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:57:41 -0400

WAM ABU DHABI, June 18th, 2013 (WAM) -- Over 50 Etisalat staff from the Etisalat Group, Etisalat UAE and Etisalat Services Holding turned up to Train Yas in Abu Dhabi past week to compete for places in Etisalat's cycle team, which will tour Belgium, Germany, France and Spain in September. Etisalat is to send eight of its employees from across its footprint in the Middle East, Asia and ...

Transgender candidate could become a first in NYC

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:17:13 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Bebeto Matthews - City council candidate Mel Wymore, center, talks with Leah Gunn Barrett, right, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV) executive director, following a gun law rally on ...

Eurozone crisis live EU car sales hit 20-year low

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:07:34 -0400

We start with another dose of bad news from Europe's auto sector -- sales have tumbled to their lowest level in 20 years, denting hopes that carmakers' fortunes might revive soon. ...

U.S. European Union agree to start free trade negotiations

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:56:38 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - The European Union and the United States will open negotiations next month on a long-sought deal to create free trade between the world's two mightiest economic regions, an effort designed to create millions of jobs that could take years to transform from dream to reality.EU and U.S. leaders announced the plans Monday at the start of the G8 summit of wealthy ...

Afghan presidents forces taking security lead

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:25:17 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan President Hamid Karzai says his country's armed forces are taking over the lead for security around the country from the U.S.-led NATO coalition.The handover of responsibility on Tuesday marks a significant milestone in the nearly 12-year war and marks a turning point for American and NATO military forces, which will now move entirely into a supporting role. It ...

Russian Luxury Estate Market Is on the Rise

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:20:51 -0400

luxury properties in cities like London , attracted by the safe-haven status they offer. But the prime real estate market in Russia's capital offers great returns - for those willing to take the risks, analysts say. Demand for prime real estate market in Moscow - and correspondingly, property prices - is on the rise, according to luxury real estate experts, with both domestic and foreign ...

Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Talks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:20:51 -0400

The United States and the European Union launched talks on Monday to create one of the world's most ambitious free-trade zones, as France again underscored its determination to protect its movies and culture. A trans-Atlantic free trade agreement was first considered three decades ago but was knocked down by France in the 1990s. Europe has now managed to get Paris onside, opening the way to ...

Seeking a Syria consensus despite US-Russia divide

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:12:06 -0400

Russian President Vladimir Putin stake out diametrically opposite stands on which side deserves military support. Ahead of a Group of Eight joint statement on Syria to be issued Tuesday, the U.S. remained committed to Obama's recent decision to arm the rebels and Russia did not budge from its weapons sales ...

Chrysler expected to formally refuse governments request to recall older Jeeps for fire risk

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:24:33 -0400

DETROIT -- Chrysler is expected to file papers Tuesday explaining its refusal to recall 2.7 million older Jeep SUVs. The U.S. government asked Chrysler earlier this month to recall Grand Cherokees and Libertys because the position of the fuel tank leaves it susceptible to rupture in a rear-end crash. The ruptured tank can spill gasoline, which can ignite if an ignition source is present. The ...

Trade deal could add 18000 jobs in Ireland – think-tank

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:17:56 -0400

Britain and 6.9pc in Ireland.Countries which already have deep trade with the US such as Ireland, the UK and Sweden are set to benefit most while countries with relatively low levels of trade such as France would see a smaller gain, Ifo said.Germany's benefits would also be below average, at 4.7pc. In employment terms, the study found that an aggressive transatlantic deal would create 1.1 ...

Hopes fade over eurozone deal on €28bn bailout costs

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:17:56 -0400

Luxembourg this week had been on the cards after influential Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said a decision would be made in June.Mr Dijsselbloem heads the Eurogroup of finance ministers responsible for setting out rules on how the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) can finance bank rescues. One of the thorniest questions is whether previous bailouts like ours can be revisited once ...

UK Co-op Group forcing bondholders to plug hole

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:17:54 -0400

Britain 's Co-operative Group will force bondholders to help plug a 1.5bn (EUR1.76bn) capital hole, avoiding a repeat of unpopular taxpayer-funded bailouts made during the financial ...

Qatar Holding sells its 10pc Porsche stake back to family

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:17:54 -0400

Porsche and Piech families. It did not disclose the value of the transaction.The sovereign fund arm said it remained committed to the Integrated Automotive Group which includes Volkswagen and Porsche through its 17pc stake in VW.Europe's largest automaker last year sealed the purchase of Porsche's car-making business after a merger failed in a tangle of legal disputes."This ...

Trading pauses ahead of big week

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:17:53 -0400

By the close in Dublin, the ISEQ Overall Index had added just 2.38 points, or 0.06pc, to close at 3,917.92. The market fell early and quickly recovered, but a steady sell-off in the afternoon saw it drift back to its opening level. The heads of the G8 began their latest summit in Co Fermanagh to discuss a number of topics, while on Thursday, European finance ministers convene in Luxembourg to ...

Telefonica denies ATT interest in buying up O2

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:17:53 -0400

O2-owner Telefonica denied yesterday that it received any indication of interest from AT&T, following a Spanish newspaper report that the government had halted a EUR70bn offer from the US ...

Israel’s President Peres Calls for Two-State Solution

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:14:05 -0400

"We have to enable the Palestinians to have an independent state of their own, and live like neighbors, not like enemies," said 89-year-old Peres, whose political career has spanned 66 years. Peres added that barriers to the peace process were more "psychological than real". "I think the greatest problem we have is skepticism and a belief that peace is impossible... To ...

Obama defends Syria policy plays down NSA spying ‘ruckus’

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:08:34 -0400

President Barack Obama speaks to guests at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast June 17, 2013. (Paul Faith/Reuters/ … President Barack Obama promised in an interview broadcast late Monday that his decision to arm Syrian rebels does not mean the United States is "taking sides in a religious war." Obama, speaking to PBS's Charlie Rose, also played down the "ruckus" over ...

Cambodia Airborne laser reveals hidden Angkor Wat city

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:05:12 -0400

SYDNEY (AP) -- Airborne laser technology has uncovered a network of roadways and canals, illustrating a bustling ancient city linking Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat temples complex. The discovery was announced late Monday in a peer-reviewed paper released early by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The laser scanning revealed a previously undocumented formal urban ...

Bruins beat Blackhawks 2-0 lead Cup finals 2-1

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:21:01 -0400

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40), of Finland, defends the net as ice crystals swirl around him during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks in Boston, Monday, June 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Bruce Bennett, ...

Eurozone Surplus numbers drop 30 in April

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:16:51 -0400

(MENAFN) Euro statistics bureau, Eurostat, reported that Eurozone Surplus numbers fell 30% since March hitting USD 19.9b in April.Eurostat added that the total of trade surplus for 27 EU countries reached USD12.2 million, which is USD9 million less than figures revealed in March. Furthermore, the bureau data showed that seasonally adjusted exports dropped by 0.8 percent, on the other hand imports ...

Brazil sees largest protests in 20 years

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:05:18 -0400

View Photo Reuters/Reuters - Demonstrators shout anti-government slogans behind a banner, which reads as 'violence', during one of many protests around Brazil's major cities in Sao Paulo June 17, 2013. REUTERS/Alex ...

Paille Bergeron put Bruins ahead 2-0 after 2nd

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:05:13 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Elise Amendola - Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, bottom, of Sweden, takes down Boston Bruins left wing Daniel Paille (20) during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL ...

Hossa hurt Chicago and Boston tied 0-0 after 1st

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:15:56 -0400

Boston Bruins fans pass a large banner through the stands before Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks in Boston, Monday, June 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise ...

10 Things to Know for Tuesday

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:00:14 -0400

upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday: 1. SUPREME COURT THROWS UP AN OBSTACLE Monday's ruling will make it harder for states seeking to bar people who are in the U.S. illegally from voting. ...

Still no Hoffa after 1st day of latest search

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:54:09 -0400

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- Federal agents revived the hunt for the remains of Jimmy Hoffa on Monday, digging around in a suburban Detroit field where a reputed Mafia captain says the Teamsters boss' body was ...

Credit Ratings and the Pricing of Sovereign Debt during the Euro Crisis

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:02:45 -0400

NBER Working Paper No. 19125 NBER Program(s): IFM This paper investigates the impact of credit rating changes on the sovereign spreads in the European Union and investigates the macro and financial factors that account for the time varying effects of a given credit rating change. We find that ...

U.S.-European Union free trade talks unveiled at G8 summit

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:55:22 -0400

Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrives at the G8 summit at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, on Monday. He announced new humanitarian aid money for Syria. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian ...

UK report Saatchi cautioned over assault on wife

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:54:10 -0400

Programme Market for Tv, Video,Cable and Satellite) in Cannes, southeastern France. British police say they are investigating after a newspaper published photos of Nigella Lawson's husband Charles Saatchi with his hands around the celebrity chef's throat. The Sunday People newspaper ran pictures of what it said was the couple's violent argument at a London restaurant on June 9, ...

Quiet Assassin Bolton to quit Fidelity after China fund flop

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:49:34 -0400

The 63-year-old will step down as head of the Fidelity China Special Situations investment trust next year after three difficult years trying to master the world's second-largest economy.Nicknamed the Quiet Assassin in City circles, Bolton earned a stellar reputation as head of Fidelity Special Situations fund in the UK, making annual returns of 20% during his 28 years at its helm. He ...

Time Warner Wins Euro Backing for CME Voting Rights

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:43:15 -0400

MOSCOW – Time Warner has won European Commission approval to exercise voting rights proportionate to its 49.9% stake in pan-European broadcaster Central European Media. ...

Half of NASA’s new class of astronauts are women

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:50:36 -0400

NASA's new class of astronauts. Top row (L-R): Josh A. Cassada, Victor J. Glover, Tyler N. Hague, Christina M. … NASA has picked eight new astronauts, half of them women, according ...

Obama NSA secret data gathering transparent

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:50:34 -0400

in Hong Kong. The Guardian newspaper says that the British eavesdropping agency GCHQ repeatedly hacked into foreign diplomats' phones and emails when the U.K. hosted international conferences, even going so far as to set up a bugged Internet caf in an effort to get an edge in high-stakes negotiations. The Guardian cites more than half a dozen internal government documents provided by former ...

Kabel Deutschland confirms preliminary offer from Liberty Global

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:43:18 -0400

Fibre optic cables of Germany's biggest cable operator, Kabel Deutschland, are pictured at the Kabel Deutschland playout center in Frankfurt February 25, ...

Stocks post gains Monday

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:28:47 -0400

U.S. markets posted gains Monday, as economic data looked positive in reports not considered particularly major newsmakers. Trading might prove muted for the first half of the week, as investors wait for the results of a two-day meeting of Open Market Committee at the ...

G8 exposes rift among leaders on Syria

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:22:53 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) -- Deep differences over Syria's fierce civil war clouded a summit of world leaders Monday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin defiantly rejecting calls from the U.S., Britain and France to halt his political and military support for Syrian leader Bashar Assad's ...

Unions give lift to Turkish anti-govt protests

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:58:27 -0400

Police fire tear gas as riot police spray water cannon at demonstrators who remained defiant after authorities evicted activists from an Istanbul park, making clear they are taking a hardline against attempts to rekindle protests that have shaken the country, near city's main Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, June 16, 2013.(AP Photo ...

Cancer killed Calif. serial killer Richard Ramirez

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:58:24 -0400

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -; A form of cancer killed the serial killer known as the Night Stalker who terrorized Southern California in the mid-1980s, coroner's officials said ...

Women may soon join Navy SEALS Army Rangers

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:43:17 -0400

Fort Campbell, Ky., in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan. Women may be able to begin training as Army Rangers by mid-2015, and as Navy SEALs a year later under broad plans Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is approving that would slowly bring women into thousands of combat jobs, including those in the country's elite special operations forces, according to details of the plans ...

Putin US-Russia positions on Syria dont coincide

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:43:15 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Evan Vucci - President Barack Obama meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Monday, June 17, 2013. Obama and Putin discussed the ongoing conflict in ...

After Euro Balotelli confirms worth in Brazil

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:32:06 -0400

RIO DE JANEIRO - If last year's European Championship was the moment Mario Balotelli revealed himself to a global audience, this year's Confederations Cup is shaping up as confirmation that he is a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.And if Italy appeared hesitant at times to heap too much pressure on Balotelli in Poland and Ukraine, that's no longer an issue.The ...

Corruption Scandal Ousts Czech PM

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:00:21 -0400

LONDON -- Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said he is resigning over a corruption and spying scandal that has rocked the small European Union nation. Czech President Milos Zeman has said the charges, brought after armed police raids on government and private offices last week, were "serious." Police raided government and private offices, seizing up to $8 million in cash, large ...

Magazines Kenya Airways earnings hit by Euro Zone crisis

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:56:20 -0400

While the airline depends on the European market for more than one third of its revenues, depressed demand for travel from Europe has severely dented its business this year. "While China is growing and USA showing marked improvement, Europe is sluggish and has been stagnant for the last two years," said Titus Naikuni, KQ Chief Executive Officer. He made these remarks during an investor ...

ARMS Ltd yet to collect €160 million in unpaid utility bills

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:52:38 -0400

MediaToday is an independent media house based in Malta. Copyright MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016, Malta, Europe Reproduction of material from this website without written permission is strictly ...

Rowhanis path of moderation also shows limits

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:40:55 -0400

a "path of moderation," the easing of nuclear tensions and steps to narrow the huge divide with the United States. He also make clear where he won't go, saying he opposes any halt to uranium enrichment, at the heart of the nuclear standoff. (AP Photo/Ebrahim ...

Indiana woman condemned for killing at 15 is freed

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:40:53 -0400

was 15 after stabbing a 78-year-old Bible school teacher 33 times during a 1985 robbery in Gary, Ind. A Department of Correction spokesman says Cooper, now 43, was released from an Indiana prison Monday, June 17, 2013. A state court overturned her death sentence in 1988. (AP Photo/Lake County Police Depatmrnt via The Indianapolis ...

UPDATE 3-Greek court orders state TV reopened PM offers compromise

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:36:06 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:36pm EDT * PM offers allies pick of who runs ERT in transitional form * Offers to reshuffle cabinet and reshape coalition pact * Abrupt closure of broadcaster plunged Greece into turmoil (Recasts with court ruling) By Lefteris Papadimas and Renee Maltezou ATHENS, June 17 (Reuters) - A Greek court ruled that shuttered state broadcaster ERT must reopen immediately, a court ...

Europe criticizes Turkey as unions strike

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:23:01 -0400

Protesters battle riot police in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey on June 11, 2013. Calm returned to the square on June 12, 2013 after the protesters were cleared from the area after two weeks of protests against the modernization of the square that quickly became an anti-government protest. UPI/Nasir ...

Eurozone crisis live Greek PM offers concessions to keep state broadcaster running

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:47:17 -0400

Greece's prime minister has offered to quickly restart state broadcaster ERT under temporary management, a government official said on Monday, in a bid to defuse a political crisis and avoid snaps elections. Samaras made the offer during talks with coalition allies in an effort to bridge a rift over the broadcaster's abrupt closure that plunged Greece into fresh political turmoil, the ...

Euro Pacific Canada Appointed Lead Corporate Financial and Transaction Advisor Marketwired

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:44:39 -0400

- GLOBAL COBALT CORP. ("Global Cobalt") (TSX VENTURE:GCO) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") with Euro Pacific Canada Inc. ("Euro Pacific") as lead Corporate Financial and Transaction Advisor (the "Advisory Services"). "The demand for ...

Guardian Snowden wont return voluntarily to US

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:39:07 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/The Guardian, File - FILE - This June 9, 2013 photo provided by The Guardian newspaper in London shows Edward Snowden, who worked as a contract employee at the U.S. National Security ...

Royal baby expected to give a big bump to the British economy

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:53:13 -0400

From Union Jack booties to "Born to Rule" sleepwear, the British royal family has joined retailers in offering baby products to mark the arrival of the royal heir.Analysts estimate the baby fever could boost the economy by 240-million ($380-million).A baby sleepsuit modelled on a guardsman's outfit is one of the gifts on sale at palace shops by the Royal Collection Trust, which ...

Truth is coming and it cannot be stopped

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:37:04 -0400

He was asked how many copies of the NSA documents he made, and "if anything happens to you, do they still exist?" "All I can say right now is the US Government is not going to be able to cover this up by jailing or murdering me," Snowden wrote. "Truth is coming, and it cannot be ...

Chicago has deadliest weekend of 2013

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:37:03 -0400

Six people in Chicago died and more than 40 were injured as gun violence reignited in the Windy City over the weekend. Two of the dead, one a teenager, were allegedly shot by ...

Report of UK hacking of diplomats angers nations

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:37:02 -0400

diplomats ' phones and emails has prompted an angry response from traditional rival Russia and provoked demands for an investigation from Turkey and South Africa. Although spying on diplomats is as old as diplomacy ...

For young immigrants a delayed coming of age

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:37:00 -0400

they were young and decided to stay, becoming unauthorized immigrants with no legal status. Now, one year after President Barack Obama announced an executive order allowing young people living in the U.S. illegally to stay and work, nearly 300,000 young adults previously living illegally in the United States have been granted permission to stay and work through the program, the most significant ...

Carlyle plans more CLOs as closes 350 mln euro fund

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:57:27 -0400

LONDON, June 17 | Mon Jun 17, 2013 12:57pm EDT LONDON, June 17 (Reuters) - Private equity firm The Carlyle Group said on Monday it had raised a 350 million euro ($467.16 million) Collateralized Loan Obligation (CLO) fund to invest in European bank loans. CLOs package leveraged loans into different slices of risk and sell them to investors as bonds with varying yields. The fund, Carlyle ...

Ex-hitman I was heartbroken Bulger was informant

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:48:59 -0400

FILE - In this Sept. 17, 2008 file photo, John Martorano is questioned about his plea agreement in exchange for testifying against former FBI agent John Connolly, in the Miami Courthouse. Connolly is accused of helping the Boston mob murder Miami gambling executive John Callahan in 1982, at Miami International Airport. Martorano, who served 12 years in prison after a plea deal, and who has ...

Riot police target pockets of Istanbul protesters

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:48:58 -0400

EU’s Barroso Pans ‘Reactionary’ French

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:39:02 -0400

Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, says Europe needs to pursue bilateral trade deals and that it also need to have more fiscal ...

EU US to launch trade talks next month

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:33:45 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) -- Talks on a sweeping trade deal between the European Union and the United States are to get underway in Washington next ...

Report of British hacking raises hackles abroad

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:33:44 -0400

A look at who is still held at Guantanamo

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:33:41 -0400

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba . Here's a look at where things stand: -- CURRENT POPULATION: The U.S. holds 166 men at the prison, down from a peak of about 680 in June 2003. -- GETTING OUT OF GUANTANAMO: Nearly 90 prisoners have been approved for either release or transfer, which in some cases will mean continued detention in their homeland or a third country. The new envoy appointed by Obama will ...

Britains FTSE picks up after four-week rout

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:15:55 -0400

* FTSE 100 up 0.4 percent* Rise follows four weeks of losses* U.S. data boosts Weir, WolseleyBy Toni VorobyovaLONDON, June 17 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index ...

STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Resolution leads FTSE risers as JPM ups tgt

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:15:52 -0400

* FTSE 100 up 0.4 percent* Rise follows four weeks of losses* U.S. data boosts Weir, WolseleyBy Toni VorobyovaLONDON, June 17 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index ...

Police looking into Nigella Lawsons throat-grab pics

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:14:14 -0400

LONDON — British police said today they are investigating newspaper photos that show Nigella Lawson's husband Charles Saatchi with his hands around the celebrity chef's throat.The pictures drew widespread condemnation after they were published by the Sunday People tabloid. The paper said the images were taken during an argument at a London restaurant on June 9.Lawson's ...

Messi faces a €4m tax investigation

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:12:42 -0400

Footballer Lionel Messi is facing legal action for EUR4m in unpaid income tax in Spain.The State prosecutor also took action against the Barcelona star's father, Jorge Horacio Messi.Both are accused of three offences against the public purse for allegedly defrauding millions on income tax returns for 2007, 2008 and 2009.The complaint, signed by prosecutor Raquel Amado, was submitted for ...

Fiat scions sunglasses firm eyes 70 mln euro valuation-source

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:59:31 -0400

MILAN, June 13 | Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:59am EDT MILAN, June 13 (Reuters) - Italia Independent, the sunglasses firm set up by a descendant of Fiat founder Gianni Agnelli, could be valued at up to 70 million euros ($93 million) including debt in its upcoming stock market debut, a person close to the matter told Reuters. The Turin-based design company, which makes velour-framed sunglasses, ...

US European Union Set to Start New Trade Pact Talks

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:51:13 -0400

European officials and U.S. President Barack Obama announced the agreement Monday to begin what are likely to be lengthy negotiations on the trade deal as the G8 summit opened at the Lough Erne golf resort in Northern Ireland. The first trade talks are set for Washington next month. The U.S. and 27-nation EU already account for nearly half of the global economy, with $1 trillion in annual trade. ...

Euro zone ministers to discuss bail-in rules in bank rescues

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:49:44 -0400

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers will discuss on Thursday how to decide which creditors will lose money and in what order during future bank rescues by the bloc's bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism.They will consider four potential options that range from shielding depositors and senior bondholders to imposing losses on some of them.The options are listed in a ...

Make it look natural companies work to make packaged foods appear homespun

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:47:16 -0400

NEW YORK -- Here's the latest goal for food makers: Perfect the art of imperfection. When stretching out the dough for its premium "Artisan Pizzas," Domino's workers are instructed not to worry about making the rectangles too perfect: The pies are supposed to have a more rustic look. At McDonald's, the egg whites for the new breakfast sandwich called the Egg White ...

Guardian NSA leaker Snowden live chats in hiding

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:46:56 -0400

WASHINGTON -; NSA leaker Edward Snowden is defending his disclosure of top-secret U.S. spying programs in an online chat with The Guardian and attacking U.S. officials for calling him a ...

Ex-NFL star Chad Johnson being released from jail

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:46:51 -0400

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -; Former NFL star Chad Johnson is being released immediately from jail after apologizing to a judge for lack of respect when he slapped his attorney on the backside in court last ...