British mobile phone giant Vodafone said Tuesday that it surged into profit in the first half 2013, boosted by a huge taxation credit and despite "tough" trade in Europe. Earnings after taxation stood at £17.954 billion ($28.66 billion, 21.41 billion euros) in the six months to September 30, boosted by a tax credit of almost £15 billion, it said in a results statement. That compared with a net loss of £1.983 billion a year earlier.