Stories for December 16th 2009
Fed confirms most special liquidity facilities to expire by February 2010
The Federal Reserve has decided to keep US interest rates on hold at between 0% and 0.25%, --as had been widely expected--, and anticipated that most of the special liquidity facilities will expire on February 1, 2010.
How Copenhagen will affect international security
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen has been billed as 'the most important gathering in human history'. Without binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stabilise expectations, climate change will have a huge impact on future security considerations.
By Duncan Depledge for RUSI.org (*)
Honduras considers political amnesty for all those involved in June coup
The Honduras congress and president-elect Porfirio Lobo agreed to consider extending a political amnesty to all those involved in the June 28th coup against ousted President Manuel Zelaya.
Brazil strong message to Paraguay on support of Venezuela inside Mercosur
Following this week’s Brazilian Senate vote to for the incorporation of Venezuela as a Mercosur full member, only Paraguay’s support is pending, but the Paraguayan Senate is divided on the issue. More over President Fernando Lugo had to withdraw the initiative last August when he was informed the divided coalition that took him to office could not garner the sufficient votes to ensure support.
Leading case: EU Court ruling supports non disclosure of press sources
Judges at the European Court of Human Rights said that four British newspapers and a news agency were right to defy a court order to disclose documents that would have identified the source of a story about a multimillion pound City takeover in 2001.
Socialist El Salvador president rejects XXI century Socialism
El Salvador president Mauricio Funes said his country will not take a single step towards the incorporation of his country to ALBA or the XXI century Socialism promoted by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and defended close relations with United States.
UK record: one in five working age people economically inactive
Youth unemployment in the United Kingdom has reached a record high as the jobless total nudged 2.5 million, the worst total since the mid-1990s. The number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work was 952,000 in the three months to October, a quarterly rise of 6,000 and the highest figure since records began in 1992.
Century old NZ butter found next to Scott’s camp in Antarctica
An almost 100-year-old pack of New Zealand butter, in good condition, has been found in Antarctica. The butter, bearing the maker's Fern leaf symbol and date, was found in a sack by workers at New Zealand's Scott Base, reported on Monday NZ press.
EU fishing fleets agree to cut catches of cod, haddock and sole
The EU says European fishing fleets will have to cut their catches of cod, haddock and sole next year, but a ban on anchovy fishing has been lifted. The quota for cod fishing is being cut by 15-35%, depending on the area. But there is an exemption for cod fishing in West Scotland and the Celtic Sea.
Mercosur: Finally Brazil’s Senate approved Venezuela incorporation
Bringing to close a year-long internal debate over the role of Venezuela in South American political and economic affairs, Brazil's Senate, by a vote of 35 to 27, voted Tuesday to approve the entrance of the country's northern neighbor into the Mercosur trade bloc.
