Bank of England hikes 2014 growth forecast

Bank of England hikes 2014 growth forecast

 

By Roland JACKSON (AFP)

 

London — The Bank of England ramped up its 2014 economic growth forecast on Wednesday as Britain's recovery picks up speed, and vowed to keep interest rates low after tweaking its guidance.

 

Gross domestic product (GDP) was set to grow by 3.4 percent this year, the central bank said in its latest quarterly report.

 

That was up sharply from an earlier estimate of 2.8 percent given in November.

 

"The recovery has gained momentum. Output is growing at the fastest rate since 2007, works are being created at the quickest pace since records began, and after four years above target the inflation rate is back at 2.0 percent," governor Mark Carney said.

 

Carney took charge of the BoE last August and launched the forward guidance policy, under which the BoE had stated that it will not raise record-low interest rates until the unemployment rate falls to at least 7.0 percent.

 

However, the bank forecast on Wednesday that the unemployment rate -- which has fallen more sharply than expected amid the strengthening recovery -- would hit 7.0-percent in the coming months.

 

As a result, the BoE added it would look at a "broad range of indicators" at that point, in order to assess the health of the labour market and establish whether borrowing costs should rise.

 

Under the latest guidance, the bank will seek to absorb all the spare capacity in the economy over the next two to three years to allow a full recovery.

 

When interest rates do begin to increase, it will be a gradual and limited process, according to the BoE.

 

The central bank also pledged to maintain its £375-billion ($620-billion, 456-billion-euro) bond-buying stimulus programme, known as quantitative easing, until at least the first rate hike.

 

Interest rates have stood at a record low level of 0.50 percent since March 2009, when it also launched the vast QE stimulus to aid growth.

 

The bank meanwhile predicted fourth-quarter GDP growth would be revised to 0.9 percent, from 0.7 percent.

 

It also expected the economy would grow by a robust 0.8 percent in the current first quarter.

 

"Forward guidance is working," Carney told journalists.

 

"Expected interest rates have remained low even as the economy has recovered strongly.

 

"Uncertainty about interest rates has fallen. Most importantly, UK businesses have understood the message."

 

Canadian national Carney was last month forced to dampen talk of a rate rise any time soon, following news that the unemployment rate fell faster than expected to 7.1 percent, a near five-year low point.

 

The bank stressed on Wednesday that borrowing costs "may need to remain at low levels for some time to come" as Britain grapples with the ongoing legacy of the financial crisis and other economic headwinds.

 

"If and when the time comes that the economy can sustain higher interest rates, bank rate is expected to rise only gradually," Carney said.

 

"For a sustained and balanced recovery, the degree of stimulus will need to remain exceptional for some time."

 

The BoE also predicted that 12-month inflation would remain at, or slightly below the bank's official 2.0-percent target, over the forecast period.

 

The economy expanded at the fastest rate last year since before the global financial crisis, growing by 1.9 percent in 2013.

 

That was the fastest pace since 2007.

 

"Despite the very sharp and unexpected fall in unemployment, the MPC still sees plenty of slack in the economy that must be used up before raising bank rate," noted HSBC economist Simon Wells.

 

"Phase two of forward guidance offered no new targets or thresholds, but by arguing that there is a lot of spare capacity and with inflation projected to be below target 2-3 years ahead, governor Carney wanted to send a signal that rates are not moving soon."

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 13 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Hamelin counting on skinsuit to edge short track rivals in Sochi

Hamelin counting on skinsuit to edge short track rivals in Sochi

 

Sochi (Russia) (AFP)

 

Canadian short track star Charles Hamelin will be counting on a new aerodynamic skinsuit in Sochi starting Monday.

 

Short track gets underway at the Iceberg Skating Palace with the men's 1500m final and the women's 500m heats and 3000m relay semi-finals also featuring on the first day of action.

 

Hamelin won gold in the 500m and the 5000m relay in Vancouver and is the highest-ranked male short-tracker in Sochi -- ranked top in the World Cup at 1000m and 1500m, second at 500m.

 

And the 29-year-old will be competing wearing the latest in high-tech clothing for speed skaters -- a spandex bodysuit.

 

"It is based on the aerodynamics of the fabric," he explained.

 

"We are told this suit is faster and more comfortable. Knowing that in our minds will make us faster in competition."

 

He added: "I want to be the first man to win the 500m in two Olympic Games."

 

American JR Celski, bronze medallist in the 1500m and the 5000m relay, and who set the 500m world record in 2012, is a contender for multiple medals.

 

Canada's Marianne St-Gelais and Italy's Arianna Fontana are hoping to benefit from Wang's absence to move up from their silver and bronze in the 500m in Vancouver.

 

The Dutch women -- Jorien Ter Mors, and sisters Sanne and Yara Van Kerkhof -- are also medal hopes.

 

Short track includes eight events -- 500m, 1,000m, and 1,500m individually for both men and women and the relays -- men's 5000m and women's 3000m.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Old boys club at Sochi as Miller, Jamaica hit slopes

Old boys club at Sochi as Miller, Jamaica hit slopes

 

Sochi (Russia) (AFP)

 

American skier Bode Miller and Jamaican bobsleigh pilot Winston Watts, with a combined age of 82, surged into the Winter Olympics spotlight Thursday, 24 hours before the official start of the most expensive Games in history.

 

Miller, 36, began his campaign for a sixth Olympic medal by clocking the fastest time in the first men's downhill training run in Rosa Khutor, high above the Olympics' Black Sea Sochi hub.

 

The colourful American was quickest in a time of 2min 07.75 sec but warned much could still happen before Sunday's medal race.

 

"It's great to win the first training run (but) it really is going to be about who improves the most from here, who learns this course the best," he said.

 

Second fastest was Swiss sensation Patrick Kueng, just 0.03sec behind Miller's time, followed by Austria's medal hope Matthias Mayer.

 

Where Miller was smooth, the women's downhillers suffered bumps and bruises before Austria's Anna Fenninger topped the standings of their first downhill outing.

 

But that came only after a lengthy stoppage as organisers were forced to alter the configuration of the final jump.

 

The women got under way on schedule but only four runners had come down the 2.7 km course when the International Ski Federation (FIS) decided to call a halt and hold the programme again.

 

Italy's Daniela Merighetti suffered a heavy fall, and course workers were quickly on site to shave snow off the lip of the final jump.

 

"I was thrown five metres into the air. It's not the length of the jump that causes the problem so much as the height, especially as it comes after a blind bend," said the Italian, who escaped serious injury but did not take part in the re-held session.

 

Fenninger timed 1:41.73 after the re-start, finishing 0.21sec ahead of Fraenzi Aufdenblatten of Switzerland, with American veteran Julia Mancuso, the 2010 Olympic downhill silver medallist, third quickest.

 

Jamaica's Olympic bobsleigh team, destined to become the darlings of the Games, pleaded with their adoring fans to stop sending money to fund their Sochi rags-to-riches story.

 

Pilot Watts, 46, admitted that the Internet campaign to fund their trip had been such a success that he and brakeman Marvin Dixon feared they would be damned as greedy opportunists if they didn't call a halt.

 

"The donations were just coming on and on. We had to stop them. We've called a press conference to do it," said Watts after almost $80,000 poured into the empty Jamaica coffers, with $178,000 gathered in total, including from sponsors and the national federation.

 

"We just didn't want them to think that we're greedy people."

 

The fast and furious men's snowboarding slopestyle event made its Olympic debut on a course that has been widely condemned as too dangerous.

 

Reigning X-Games champion Maxence Parrot of Canada top-scored with 97.50 points although it was Britain's Billy Morgan who had the honour of becoming the first competitor in action at the 2014 Olympics.

 

Later Thursday, Russian figure skating legend Yevgeny Plushenko will battle to get nation off to a golden start in the team competition.

 

The inaugural 10-team event kicks off in the Iceberg Skating Palace with the men's short programme.

 

Canada, Russia and the United States are favourites with strong skaters in all four categories -- men, women, pairs and ice dancing.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Downhill queen Vonn to miss Sochi Winter Olympics

Downhill queen Vonn to miss Sochi Winter Olympics

 

Paris (AFP)

 

American ski champion Lindsey Vonn is to miss next month's Sochi Winter Olympics due to a right knee injury she sustained nearly a year ago, she announced on Tuesday.

 

"I am devastated to announce that I will not be competing in Sochi," Vonn said on her Facebook page.

 

"I did everything I possibly could to somehow get strong enough to overcome having no ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) but the reality has sunk in that my knee is just too unstable to compete at this level.

 

"I'm having surgery soon so that I can be ready for the World Championships at home in Vail next February.

 

"On a positive note, this means there will be an additional spot so that one of my teammates can go for gold."

 

The 29-year-old Vonn, who has 59 World Cup race victories to her credit and who is the reigning Olympic downhill champion, badly injured the knee while competing in a super-G at the World Championships in February.

 

After reconstructive surgery on the joint and a lengthy layoff, Vonn returned to World Cup competition at Lake Louise, Canada in early December, but only after she injured the same knee again while training in Colorado in November.

 

At Lake Louise, Vonn was 40th in the first downhill, 11th in a second downhill and fifth in a super-G.

 

She then competed in a downhill at Val d'Isere in the French Alps just before Christmas, under the watchful eye of boyfriend Tiger Woods, but failed to finish the race as she skied out.

 

"Unfortunately I have no ACL and it just gave out on me," she said at the time.

 

Vonn said she would compete in just one or two races before the Winter Olympics in the Russian ski resort of Sochi from February 7.

 

Her absence will deprive the Games of one of the biggest stars and draws in winter sport with her romance with Woods making headlines worldwide.

 

The head of the US Ski and Snowboard Association, Bill Marolt said that he was confident Vonn would be able to bounce back from the injury in time for the next World Cup season later this year.

 

"She knows the hard work it takes to get to the top and still has significant goals to achieve in what has been an incredible career.

 

"While Lindsey won’t be in Sochi, we have a strong team that is well prepared to challenge.

 

"The women’s speed team is experienced with five athletes who have achieved World Cup podiums and a seasoned veteran in Julia Mancuso who has won three Olympic medals in her career."

 

In a high-risk sport that leaves little margin between triumph and tragedy, Vonn has endured several injury nightmares in what has been a spectacular career.

 

She bounced back from a frightful crash in downhill training at the 2006 Olympics that left her with a badly bruised back, competing just days later.

 

A year later, a badly twisted right knee in slalom training at the Are world championships saw her season brought to a premature end.

 

Vonn also broke a finger in a crash at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, an event she went into carrying a shin injury.

 

Each time the American battled back, picking up multiple medals and four overall World Cup titles along the way.

 

It remains to be seen if, at 29, she will be able to pick up the pieces and once again be competitive at the highest level.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 7 Tuesday January 2014 The Roman)

 

Canada: la balance commerciale est repassée dans le vert en octobre Canada: The trade balance is ironed in green in October

Canada: la balance commerciale est repassée dans le vert en octobre



Le Canada a dégagé un excédent commercial de 75 millions de dollars canadiens en octobre, par le biais d'une baisse des prix des produits importés, après un déficit de 303 millions le mois précédent, a annoncé mercredi l'institut de la statistique.



C'est la première fois en deux ans que la balance commerciale canadienne est bénéficiaire.



Ce léger excédent est une bonne surprise pour l'économie canadienne.



Les économistes dans leur consensus avaient pronostiqué un déficit commercial de 700 millions.



En octobre, les importations de marchandises du Canada ont reculé de 1,2% par rapport au mois précédent pour atteindre 40,4 milliards de dollars.



Cette tendance au recul des marchandises importées est à mettre au compte d'une baisse des achats à l'étranger de produits énergétiques et de véhicules automobiles, selon Statistique Canada.



A l'inverse, le Canada a importé plus de produits chimiques de base et des plastiques.



Les exportations ont diminué de 0,3% à 40,5 milliards de dollars avec un recul des ventes à l'étranger de véhicules automobiles, d'avions et de matériels ferroviaires.



En revanche, les exportations de produits agricoles et de la pêche et celles des biens de consommation ont augmenté.



Le Canada a profité de la croissance aux Etats-Unis, son premier partenaire commercial vers lequel trois-quarts des exportations sont dirigées.



En octobre, les exportations ont augmenté de 10% (30,4 milliards) par rapport au même mois l'an dernier mais sont restées pratiquement stables en comparaison avec le mois de septembre.



L'excédent commercial avec les Etats-Unis est de 3,9 milliards de dollars.



Les exportations vers l'Union européenne ont chuté (-18,4%) tandis que les importations ont augmenté de 15% par rapport à octobre 2012.



Le Canada et l'Union européenne ont signé en octobre un traité de libre échange qui doit pendant les deux prochaines années faire l'objet d'ajustements réglementaires pour entrer totalement en vigueur.



Ces exportations ont également progressé avec le Japon (+7,5% sur un an) tandis que le Canada a réduit ses achats (-16,8%).



Pour le secteur énergétique, les importations ont diminué de 8,5% à 3,4 milliards de dollars en octobre sous l'effet combiné des volumes et des prix.



Le Canada a réduit de 19% ses importations de pétrole brut et de pétrole brut bitumineux mais en parallèle a importé plus de produits pétroliers raffinés.



Les exportations de produits alimentaires, agricoles et de la pêche ont augmenté de 11,8% à 2,5 milliards de dollars principalement sous l'effet des volumes.



(Les Echos, 4 mercredi décembre 2013 le Roman)





Canada: The trade balance is ironed in green in October



Canada has a trade surplus of 75 million Canadian dollars in October, through lower prices of imported goods, after a deficit of 303 million in the previous month, announced Wednesday the Institute of Statistics.



This is the first time in two years that the Canadian trade balance beneficiary.



This slight excess is a good surprise for the Canadian economy.



Economists in their consensus had predicted a trade deficit of $ 700 million.



In October, imports of goods from Canada fell 1.2 % from the previous month to $ 40.4 billion.



This downward trend of imported goods is to be attributed to a decline in foreign purchases of energy products and motor vehicles, according to Statistics Canada.



In contrast, Canada has imported more than basic chemicals and plastics.



Exports fell 0.3 % to $ 40.5 billion with a decline in foreign sales of motor vehicles, aircraft and trains.



In contrast, exports of agricultural products and fish and those of consumer goods increased.



Canada has benefited from the growth in the United States, its largest trading partner to which three-quarters of exports are directed.



In October, exports increased by 10 % (30.4 billion) compared to the same month last year but remained virtually unchanged compared with September.



The trade surplus with the United States is $ 3.9 billion.



Exports to the European Union fell (-18.4 %) while imports increased by 15 % compared to October 2012.



Canada and the European Union signed a treaty in October of free trade must for the next two years subject to regulatory adjustments to enter fully into force.



Exports also rose with Japan (+7.5 % over one year), while Canada has reduced its purchases (-16.8 %).



For the energy sector, imports fell 8.5 % to $ 3.4 billion in October due to a combination of volume and price.



Canada has reduced its imports 19 % of crude oil and crude bitumen but parallel imported more refined petroleum products.



Exports of food, agricultural and fishery increased 11.8 % to $ 2.5 billion primarily due to volumes.



http://www.lesechos.fr/



(Les Echos, 4 Wednesday December 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. tohiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 5 Thursday December 2013 The Roman)

Sony: 1 million de PlayStation 4 vendues Sony: PlayStation 4 to 1 million sold

Sony: 1 million de PlayStation 4 vendues

 

Sony a annoncé dimanche avoir vendu un million d'exemplaires de sa nouvelle console de jeu vidéo PlayStation 4 au cours de la première journée de commercialisation aux Etats-Unis et au Canada.

 

La PS4, grâce à laquelle le groupe japonais espère relancer ses activités d'électronique grand public, est arrivée vendredi chez les détaillants nord-américains et sera lancée en Europe et en Amérique latine le 29 novembre.

 

Le chiffre de ventes annoncé dimanche n'est pas une surprise puisque Sony avait déjà annoncé avoir enregistré plus d'un million de réservations.

 

Mais il marque une première étape dans le match qui opposera au cours des prochains mois Sony à l'américain Microsoft, dont la nouvelle console, la Xbox One, sera mise en vente vendredi prochain.

 

Le japonais s'est fixé pour objectif de vendre cinq millions de PS4 d'ici la fin de son exercice fiscal, le 31 mars.

 

(Le Figaro, 18 lundi novembre 2013 la Romaine)

 

 

Sony: PlayStation 4 to 1 million sold

 

Sony announced Sunday that it had sold a million copies of its new PlayStation 4 console video game during the first day of marketing in the United States and Canada.

 

The PS4, through which the Japanese group hopes to restart its business of consumer electronics, arrived Friday in North American retailers and will be launched in Europe and Latin America on November 29.

 

Net sales on Sunday is not a surprise since Sony has already announced that it saved more than one million reservations.

 

But it marks a first step in the match between the months ahead to U.S. Sony Microsoft, the new console, Xbox One, will go on sale next Friday.

 

Japanese has set a target to sell five million PS4 by the end of its fiscal year on March 31.

 

(Le Figaro, 18 Monday November 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 18 Monday November 2013 The Roman)

Agreement with Canada and Japan, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister, natural gas procurement in the vice-ministerial level consultation

Agreement with Canada and Japan, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister, natural gas procurement in the vice-ministerial level consultation 

 

カナダと次官級協議で合意　経産相、天然ガス調達で

 

【バンクーバー共同】カナダを訪問中の茂木敏充経済産業相は１０月１１日、バンクーバーでオリバー天然資源相と会談し、安価なカナダ産「シェールガス」による液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）の調達実現のため、インフラ投資促進や円滑な輸出承認に向け次官級協議を年内にも開くことなどで合意した。

 

日本は、世界５位の天然ガス生産国であるカナダからの輸入でＬＮＧの調達先を多角化し、安定供給確保を狙う。

 

経産相は会談後の記者会見で「日本企業も多く関わっており、商業ベースで速やかに輸入を実現したい」と強調した。

 

カナダの輸出先は現在、米国のみ。

 

北米以外に輸出するには連邦政府の輸出承認が必要。

 

（共同通信）

 

（琉球新報、2013年10月12日）

 

 

Agreement with Canada and Japan, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister, natural gas procurement in the vice-ministerial level consultation 

 

(Vancouver Kyodo) 11 October 2013, Toshimitsu Motegi Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry met with Oliver Minister of Natural Resources in Vancouver during his visit to Canada, for the procurement realization of low price liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada “Shale Gas”, for smooth trade allowance and infrastructure investment promotion, agreed in, they will open the vice-ministerial level consultation towards the export approval in this year.

 

Japan, a natural gas-producing countries in the world No. 5 Canada, aimed at securing a stable supply and diversify suppliers of LNG with imports from Canada.

 

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister stressed in a press conference held after the meeting, "Japanese companies are also involved in many, we want to achieve the import immediately on a commercial basis.”

 

Currently, export of Canada is only to the United States.

 

LNG may not be exported without approval of the federal government to export outside of North America.

 

(Kyodo News)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 12 Saturday October 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 14 Monday October 2013 The Roman)

 

Asia-Pacific leaders on track to sign trade deal by year end

Asia-Pacific leaders on track to sign trade deal by year end

 

[caption id="attachment_9201" align="alignnone" width="722"] (US Secretary of State John Kerry (second from right) speaks with his country's Trade Representative Michael Froman, as New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (second from left) speaks with his Trade Minister Tim Groser at the Trans-Pacific Partnership meet in Bali, Indonesia on Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013. The United States and 11 other nations negotiating an Asia-Pacific trade pact say they are on track to agree on a comprehensive deal before the year's end. (PHOTO: AP))[/caption]

 

BALI (AP) - The United States and 11 other nations negotiating an Asia-Pacific trade pact say they are on track to agree on a comprehensive deal before the year's end.

 

A statement issued by the 12 leaders on Tuesday after an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali said they have made "significant progress" in setting standards for trade in goods and services, and for investment and public procurement.

 

It said they had agreed "to resolve all outstanding issues with the objective of completing this year a comprehensive and balanced, regional agreement."

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry stood in for President Barack Obama, who stayed home to deal with the debt stalemate.

 

The nations include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam.

 

(The Straits Times, 8 Tuesday October 2013 The Roman)

 

 

TPP, Discussion chief meeting started, to conclude later this year

TPP, Discussion chief meeting started, to conclude later this year

 

ＴＰＰ、年内妥結へ論点整理　首席会合が開幕

 

環太平洋連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉に参加する日本や米国などは９月１８日から、米ワシントンで首席交渉官会合を開催。

 

交渉の年内妥結に向け、難航する分野を中心に、協議を前進させるための論点の整理に取り組む。

 

会合は２１日までの予定。

 

日本からは鶴岡公二首席交渉官が出席。

 

ワシントンでは２０～２３日に関税撤廃をめぐる分野別協議も実施。

 

これと並行し、日米が２国間の関税交渉をする方向で調整している。

 

ＴＰＰ交渉に参加する１２カ国はインドネシア・バリ島で１０月に開く首脳会合での大筋合意と、年内妥結を目指している。

 

（共同通信）

 

（琉球新報、2013年9月19日）

 

 

TPP, the chief meeting started, to conclude later this year

 

From 18 September, the United States and Japan, 12 countries, to participate in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement negotiations held the chief meeting in Washington.

 

Mainly in areas towards the end of the year conclusion of the negotiations, the difficulties, to address the issue of organizing to advance the talks.

 

Meeting scheduled for up to 21 September.

 

Koji Tsuruoka chief negotiators attended from Japan.

 

Sectoral consultation over the tariff elimination also conducted 20 September to 23 September in Washington.

 

In parallel with this, it is adjusted in the direction of the United States and Japan to the tariff negotiations between the two countries.

 

12 countries to participate in the TPP negotiations aims and broad agreement on the summit meeting that opens in October in Bali, Indonesia, the agreement will be later this year.

 

(Kyodo News)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 19 Thursday September 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 19 Thursday September 2013 The Roman)

US NSA and UK GCHQ 'can spy on smartphones'

US NSA and UK GCHQ 'can spy on smartphones'

 

[caption id="attachment_8443" align="alignnone" width="304"] (Apple's iPhone privacy protection codes are reported to have been compromised (BBC (AFP))[/caption]

 

The US National Security Agency (NSA) is reported have cracked the security codes which protect data on iPhones, Blackberries and Android devices.

 

German news weekly Der Spiegel says documents suggest the NSA and the British GCHQ made joint efforts to gather intelligence.

 

Teams looked at each phone to crack its privacy codes, Der Spiegel said.

 

Saturday saw thousands of demonstrators in Berlin demand that the NSA stop monitoring internet users.

 

Codes unlocked

 

The documents Spiegel has seen do not show whether or not there has been mass surveillance of phone use.

 

Once the intelligence teams had unlocked the codes, agencies could read a user's contacts and lists of who had been called.

 

The BBC's Steve Evans in Berlin says the reports do seem to indicate that the British and American security agencies have the ability to read private communications beyond what might have previously been thought possible - or desirable by those who fear the intrusion of the state.

 

The magazine did not explain how it had obtained the documents.

 

But one of the authors of the article, Laura Poitras, is an American filmmaker with close contacts to the NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

 

'Champagne'

 

According to the documents seen by Der Spiegel, the Canadian manufacturer of Blackberry phones began using a new method to compress the data in May 2009.

 

Intelligence agents were unable to access some information on BlackBerry phones for about a year afterwards, the Associated Press news agency said.

 

Der Spiegel's article said that GCHQ then cracked the problem, too - and analysts celebrated their achievement with the word "Champagne".

 

A stream of recent revelations about international data surveillance has ignited a heated debate in Germany about the country's co-operation with the United States in intelligence matters.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

 

(BBC, 8 Sunday September 2013 The Roman)