Labour Party Calls for General Election Following Conservative Losses
The recent local elections in England saw the Conservative Party facing significant setbacks, prompting the Labour Party to urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to consider a general election. The Tories suffered losses in around half of the contested seats, while Labour secured victories in councils that had been out of their grasp for decades, as well as in regional mayorships and a special parliamentary election for the Blackpool South seat.
Labour leader Keir Starmer delivered a strong message to the Prime Minister, stating, “Here in Blackpool, a message has been sent directly to the prime minister. This was directly to Rishi Sunak to say we are fed up with your decline, your chaos, and your division and we want change.”
Sunak's Confidence Amidst Election Speculations
Despite calls for a general election, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remains defiant, emphasizing that voters will continue to support the Conservative Party. The recent re-election of Conservative Ben Houchen as the mayor of Tees Valley further bolstered Sunak's confidence in the party's prospects.
Richard Holden, the chairman of the Conservative Party, acknowledged the challenges faced by the party, describing it as "a tough night."
Current Polling Trends and Projections
National polls indicate a significant lead for Labour over the Conservatives in terms of general election preferences, with a 20-percentage-point difference between the two parties. Initial tallies suggest that Labour could secure 34% of the vote, with the Tories trailing by nine points.
Projections by Sky News for a general election based on partial results indicate that Labour could emerge as the largest party but might fall short of an overall majority.
London Mayoral Election Outcome Awaited
As the election results continue to unfold, all eyes are on the mayoral contest in London, where Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party is vying for re-election. Additionally, other parties such as the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Reform UK have also made gains in various regions.
Despite the shifting political landscape, there appears to be no immediate plans within the Conservative Party to replace Sunak, making it unlikely for a leadership change to occur in time for an election campaign. Sunak has previously hinted at a potential vote in the "second half of 2024."
lo/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters)
UK’s Conservatives Face Devastating Defeat in Local Elections
World Food Prices Rise for Second Consecutive Month: Grain, Oil, and Meat Lead the Increase
Citizens choose pork belly at a supermarket in Seoul. ⓒ News1
Last month, world food prices rose by 0.3% from the previous month, maintaining an upward trend for two consecutive months. Last month, grain, oil, and meat items led the price increase.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 4th, the World Food Price Index in April recorded 119.1 points, up 0.3% from the previous month. By product group, the prices of cereals, oils and fats, and meat rose, while the prices of dairy products and sugar fell.
The grain price index last month was 111.2 points, up 0.3% from the previous month. There was no significant change in international wheat prices last month. Concerns about wheat crops in parts of the European Union, Russia and the United States have put increasing pressure on prices, but continued competition among major exporters has kept price increases under control.
In the case of corn, prices rose as demand for imports increased amid logistical difficulties arising from the conflict in Ukraine and as production prospects in Brazil were lowered. International rice prices fell, particularly due to the impact of the Indica rice harvest.
In April, oil and fat recorded 130.9 points. Despite the drop in palm oil and soybean oil prices, prices generally rose as sunflower seed oil and rapeseed oil prices rose. In the case of palm oil, demand for imports fell while output increased in major producing countries, and in the case of soya bean oil, prices fell due to good soya bean production prospects in South America.
On the other hand, import demand for sunflower seed oil remains high, and rapeseed oil prices have risen due to bad weather in some European production regions.
The meat price index was 116.3 points, up 1.6% from 114.5 points the previous month. International beef prices have risen as demand for imports remains high despite increases in domestic production in major importing countries.
In the case of poultry meat, prices rose as demand for imports increased as production became difficult due to the bird flu outbreak in the Middle East. On the other hand, pork prices fell, attributed to low domestic demand in Western Europe and import demand from China and other countries.
The milk price index was 123.7 points, down 0.3% from the previous month. International butter prices have risen as demand for imports remains high and stocks in Western Europe run low. On the other hand, skimmed milk powder prices fell due to low import demand amid ample export capacity, particularly in Western Europe, and cheese prices fell due to the strong US dollar.
Sugar fell 4.4% to 127.5 points compared to 133.4 points the previous month. Prices are expected to have fallen as supply in India and Thailand is expected to increase compared to previous forecasts. In Brazil, rainfall improved from late March to early April after a long drought, easing some concerns about the harvest, and the weakness of the Brazilian real against the US dollar also contributed to the drop in sugar prices. However, the extent of the price decline was somewhat limited due to the increase in international crude oil prices and Brazilian ethanol prices.
(Sejong = News 1)
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World Food Prices Rise for Second Consecutive Month: Grain, Oil, and Meat Lead the Increase
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