Stories for July 2014

Monday, July 7th 2014 - 23:09 UTC
ECLAC sides with Argentina; calls for Collective Action Clause for sovereign debts

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, has sided with Argentina in the holdout hedge funds litigation arguing on the need to establish an international mechanism that would allow for the resolution of conflicts of interest caused by sovereign defaults:
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 22:57 UTC
Flying squid controversy in Chile between artisanal fishermen and industry

The Chilean government insists that it has a single position on the jumbo flying squid fisheries management controversy currently exposed to a conflict of interests: 80% of the catch for the artisanal sector and 20% for industry.
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 22:49 UTC
FAO/WHO elaborating new guidelines for identifying food-borne parasites

A “Top Ten” list identifying the food-borne parasites of greatest global concern has been released by FAO, and new guidelines are being developed to control them. The parasites affect the health of millions of people every year, infecting muscle tissues and organs, causing epilepsy, anaphylactic shock, amoebic dysentery and other problems. Some can live on in our bodies for decades.
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 22:42 UTC
FAO food price index down for third month running: plenty of corn and wheat

The FAO Food Price Index was down for a third consecutive month in June, a decline mostly influenced by lower wheat, maize and palm oil prices that reflected ample supplies and improved global production prospects for these commodities.
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 22:31 UTC
Francis 'humbly' asks for forgiveness from victims of 'clerical sexual abuse'

Pope Francis on Monday morning “humbly” asked six clerical sex abuse victims for forgiveness for the “grave crimes of clerical sex abuse” committed against them. The Pope made his comment to the victims in a homily delivered at mass in the Domus Santa Marta, his Vatican residence.
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 22:09 UTC
Stricter controls in airports: charge cell-phone next time you fly to the US

The United States is tightening border controls so that if your cell-phone is out of power the next time you fly to the US from overseas, you might have to leave it behind.
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 07:26 UTC
Uruguay Vice-president and Latam UN ambassadors claim US justice took sides

Latin American ambassadors to the United Nations (UN) and Uruguay's Vice-president Danilo Astori showed their support to Argentina in its dispute against holdout hedge funds. They agreed that the so-called 'vulture funds' are a risk to debtor nations and that they pose a threat to the region.
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 07:17 UTC
Kicillof formally meets 'Special Master' Pollack, but not holdouts delegates

Economy minister Axel Kicillof is heading the Argentine delegation that on Monday will hold a first formal meeting in New York with “Special Master”, financial expert Daniel Pollack, appointed as mediator by Judge Thomas Griesa in negotiations between the sovereign country and holdout hedge funds, according to a release late Sunday from Buenos Aires.
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 07:10 UTC
Lagarde cautious about growth momentum; infrastructure investment needed

Global economic activity should strengthen in the second half of the year and accelerate in 2015, although momentum could be weaker than expected, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said, hinting at a slight cut in the Fund's growth forecasts.
Monday, July 7th 2014 - 06:50 UTC
World Cup tickets resale and investigation becomes major scandal for FIFA

World football governing body FIFA has revealed that the son of Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Julio Grondona, Humberto, must present a report explaining his actions following a scandal over the resale of tickets at the 2014 World Cup.