Stories for December 2014

Friday, December 5th 2014 - 06:50 UTC
Could falling oil prices spark a financial crisis?

The oil and gas boom in the United States was made possible by the extensive credit afforded to drillers. Not only has financing come from company shareholders and traditional banks, but hundreds of billions of dollars have also come from junk-bond investors looking for high returns.
Friday, December 5th 2014 - 06:45 UTC
Bank of England leaves rates unchanged but deflation fears persist

UK interest rates have been held at a record low of 0.5% for another month by the Bank of England. It also decided to maintain its quantitative easing program, designed to stimulate lending in the economy, at the £375bn already spent.
Friday, December 5th 2014 - 06:34 UTC
South Atlantic patrol HMS Iron Duke pays humanitarian visit to Haiti

HMS Iron Duke has paid an historic visit to Haiti, the first British naval vessel to the island nation since RFA Largs Bay delivered earthquake aid in 2010. Iron Duke is now reaching the end of her six month deployment of the South Atlantic and marked her entry into the Port of Cap Haitien with a 21 gun salute.
Friday, December 5th 2014 - 06:19 UTC
Latin America 'unfortunately' has a very low participation in global trade

Latin America 'unfortunately' has a very low participation in world trade which is a major challenge for the region, according to Gonzalo Rodriguez, member of Mercosur technical staff, who was one of several speakers at the preamble of Unasur summit.
Friday, December 5th 2014 - 06:14 UTC
ECB steps up plans for more stimulus measures to revitalize Euro-economy

The European Central Bank (ECB) has “stepped up” plans for more stimulus measures aimed at revitalizing the Euro-zone economy, bank president Mario Draghi said on Thursday. His comments came after the ECB held interest rates at 0.05%.
Friday, December 5th 2014 - 06:01 UTC
HMS Dragon in Chile; Argentine media recalls Mercosur ban on RN vessels

Argentine media is reporting that HMS Dragon, Type 45 destroyer and one of the most modern vessels in the Royal Navy is currently in Valparaiso, Chile attending the Exponaval 2014, one of the main naval and maritime exhibition events in the Southern hemisphere.
Thursday, December 4th 2014 - 06:06 UTC
Ecuador to combat IUU fishing as part of trade agreement with the EU

Ecuador's Deputy Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries organized a workshop with representatives from various government institutions related to port and maritime fisheries control in the country in order to develop a National Action Plan to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Thursday, December 4th 2014 - 05:51 UTC
Falling oil prices comes as a blessing for dollar-short Argentina

The slump in global oil prices will reduce Argentina's energy import bill by several billion dollars, a development that could ease pressure on the Central Bank’s strained foreign-currency reserves, according to Economy minister Axel Kicillof.
Thursday, December 4th 2014 - 05:43 UTC
Maduro's regime charges opposition leader Corina Machado with 'sedition'

Venezuela has indicted hard-line opposition leader María Corina Machado on charges of sedition claiming she took part in an alleged plot to kill president Nicolas Maduro, the state prosecutor's office confirmed.
Thursday, December 4th 2014 - 05:34 UTC
Cristina's immunity when she steps down, becomes a political topic

Argentine Cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich denied that a bill to choose the members of Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur) through popular vote had a hidden agenda for granting immunity for President Cristina Fernandez after 2015, as was denounced by Buenos Aires Clarin newspaper.