Stories for January 2014

Saturday, January 11th 2014 - 07:48 UTC
Russian vessel incident triggers debate on Antarctica growing tourist industry

The challenging rescue operation launched after a Russian ship became trapped in Antarctic pack ice in December shows the inherent risks facing the frozen continent's burgeoning tourist industry, experts say. Antarctica represents one of the last frontiers for adventurous travelers, an icy wonderland of glaciers, emperor penguins and seemingly endless white expanses.
Saturday, January 11th 2014 - 06:57 UTC
US Supreme Court agrees to consider Argentina litigation case with hedge funds

The US Supreme Court agreed on Friday to consider a dispute over subpoenas in a case stemming from long-running litigation over Argentina's obligations to bond investors in the wake of its default on 100 billion dollars in sovereign debt in 2002.
Saturday, January 11th 2014 - 06:49 UTC
Brazil's inflation off target in 2013 and prospects in election year not encouraging

Brazilian consumer prices ended 2013 higher than expected at 5.91%, above the upper limit of the government target, after inflation surged in December, official statistics released Friday showed. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) said last month's inflation figure of 0.92% was the highest for December since 2002, and compared with 0.54% a month earlier.
Saturday, January 11th 2014 - 06:45 UTC
Brazilian jails in collapse: one convict is slain every two days

Brazilian report shows at least 218 inmates were killed in the country’s jails last year, an average of more than one convict slain every two days. The data was published by Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo on Thursday.
Saturday, January 11th 2014 - 06:30 UTC
Airlines operating in Venezuela have 3.3bn dollars trapped by currency controls

International airlines operating in Venezuela have 3.3 billion trapped because of currency controls, the International Air Transport Association, IATA, revealed. Airlines have to wait around 12 months for the government to convert their Bolivar earnings into dollars, with the time lag growing, according to the Venezuela Airline Association.
Saturday, January 11th 2014 - 06:27 UTC
Silent protest: thousands at funeral of ex-Miss Venezuela slain in an armed robbery

Thousands of people attended the funeral of actress and former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and her ex husband this Friday, in solidarity with the family of the couple that was slain this week in an armed robbery.
Friday, January 10th 2014 - 07:10 UTC
The delayed Mercosur summit will have to address the EU new foreign aid policy

When Mercosur finally holds its much delayed summit in Venezuela at the end of the month following two postponements (12 December and 17 January), besides its normal agenda of agreements and disagreements, it will have to address a new challenge, this time from the European Union which has redefined its development support policy, leaving all Mercosur members, except Paraguay out of its tariffs and market access benefits.
Friday, January 10th 2014 - 06:46 UTC
Falklands oil industry will have its 'Made in USA' dock facility in Stanley harbor

The Falkland Islands budding oil and gas industry advanced a further step this week when the Falklands' Planning and Building Committee gave planning permission to a temporary dock facility (TDF) in Stanley harbor that will provide logistics support to exploration drilling.
Friday, January 10th 2014 - 06:40 UTC
Brazil treasury pays highest yield to launch new 10-year fixed-rate domestic bond

Brazil's Treasury on Thursday paid the highest yield ever to launch a new 10-year benchmark fixed-rate domestic bond. The Treasury said it sold two million NTN-F bonds maturing in January 2025, worth 1.64 billion Reais (683 million dollars), at a yield as high as 13.3899%. The bond is expected to become Brazil's new 10-year benchmark paper.
Friday, January 10th 2014 - 06:35 UTC
France fines Google for ignoring local law on tracking and storing users info

France's data protection watchdog has fined Google 150,000 Euros after the US search engine ignored a three-month ultimatum to bring its practices on tracking and storing user information in line with local law.