Stories for November 27th 2015

Friday, November 27th 2015 - 15:22 UTC
Oil jobs lost: 250.000 and counting, Texas likely to see massive layoffs soon

Crude oil just capped off a third straight week of declines, as WTI nears the $40 per barrel threshold. Goldman Sachs is once again raising the possibility of oil dipping into the $20s per barrel. That spells more pain for the energy sector. Many companies have already slashed spending and culled their payrolls, but the total number of job losses continues to climb.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 12:04 UTC
Paris attacks: The terrorist strategy

By Gwynne Dyer - As always after a major terrorist attack on the West, the right question to ask after the slaughter in Paris is: what were the strategic aims behind the attack? This requires getting your head around the concept that terrorists have rational strategies, but once you have done that the motives behind the attacks are easy to figure out. It also becomes clear that the motives have changed.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 11:22 UTC
Obama on the phone with Macri; interest in expanding trade and energy ties

United States President Barack Obama congratulated Argentine president-elect Mauricio Macri on his victory in the runoff in a phone call, according to a brief release from the White House.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 11:07 UTC
Australia's BHP denies UN report on 'toxic' mine spill from collapsed dam in Brazil

Australian mining giant BHP says mud spilled by the devastating collapse of a dam at a Brazilian mine is not toxic. On Thursday the UN said the dam burst at the Samarco mine unleashed a flood equivalent to “20,000 Olympic swimming pools of toxic mud”.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 08:21 UTC
Maduro blames killing of opposition leader to score-settling among gangs

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday the fatal shooting of an opposition leader appeared to be a gangland score-settling dismissing claim it was politically motivated ahead of elections. An attacker shot Luis Manuel Diaz dead on Wednesday evening in the central Guarico region at a campaign rally for the December 6 legislative elections, party officials said, ratcheting up fears that violence could erupt in the lead-up to the polls.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 07:55 UTC
Brazilian banks follow closely events in Argentina: Dollar at 12 Pesos

Brazilian banks which follow closely events in Argentina and prospects of the new government under president Mauricio Macri, believe the official exchange rate of 9.67 Pesos to the dollar will inevitably have to be devalued, to 12 Pesos by the end of the year, which means a 24% depreciation.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 07:43 UTC
US gaining influence in Caricom: signs US$ 165m in development assistance

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) signed in Guyana, this week, agreements that will see countries of the eastern and southern Caribbean benefiting from US$165 million in development assistance.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 07:23 UTC
Falklands MLA hopes for ‘saner’ approach from new Argentine president

Falkland Islands lawmakers have reacted with caution and expectation to the election of Mauricio Macri, ex Buenos Aires mayor, as Argentina's next president. He will succeed on 10 December Cristina Fernandez and twelve years of rough relations with Kirchnerism and constant intimidation.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 06:56 UTC
Corbyn faces shadow cabinet revolt over Cameron's proposal to bomb IS

Leader of the British opposition Jeremy Corbyn is facing a shadow cabinet revolt over his announcement that he cannot back proposals for airstrikes in Syria. It comes after David Cameron made his case for extending military action against the Islamic State saying “every day we don't take action is a day ISIL grows stronger”.
Friday, November 27th 2015 - 06:28 UTC
OAS calls for immediate end to violence in Venezuela

The Organization of American States (OAS), secretary general Luis Almagro condemned the killing in Venezuela of an opposition leader during a political rally ahead of the 6 December legislative election, and called for an immediate end to violence in the country.