Stories for December 14th 2018

Friday, December 14th 2018 - 09:05 UTC
US confirms China's first purchase of soybeans since the start of the trade war

The United States government officials on Thursday hailed China's first meager purchase of U.S. soybeans since its trade war with the United States began in July and said they hoped for, but could not guarantee, more to come.
Friday, December 14th 2018 - 09:03 UTC
ECB confirms it's ending the massive bond-buying scheme

The European Central Bank has confirmed it is ending its huge net asset purchase program to stimulate the Eurozone economy this month. The ECB has stopped its bond-buying scheme, worth €30bn a month, despite a recent slowdown in the bloc's recovery.
Friday, December 14th 2018 - 08:58 UTC
Travel group Tui profits up on rise in hotel and cruise bookings

A rise in hotel and cruise bookings has helped European travel group Tui sail through another year with more than 10% growth in profits. It said next year, profits would grow a similar amount as customers also bought more excursions and holiday activities. Tui has seen double-digit growth for the last four years.
Friday, December 14th 2018 - 08:54 UTC
A third of the Argentine population is considered poor

Poverty in Argentina has risen to its highest in eight years, a new report has revealed, with more than a third of the population now considered to be poor. The new survey, from the Catholic University of Argentina's Social Debt Observatory, found that 33.6% of Argentines were living below the poverty line in the third quarter of the year.
Friday, December 14th 2018 - 08:52 UTC
US Senate blames Saudi prince Salman for Khashoggi's death and votes to stop military aid in Yemen

The US Senate has voted to withdraw US military aid for Saudi Arabia's war on Yemen and to blame the kingdom's crown prince for the murder of a journalist. The historic vote is the first time any chamber of US Congress has agreed to pull US forces from a military conflict under the 1973 War Powers Act.
Friday, December 14th 2018 - 08:45 UTC
EU leaders tell Theresa May that Brexit deal is “not open for renegotiation, only clarifications”

European Union leaders have said the Brexit withdrawal agreement is “not open for renegotiation”, despite appeals from Theresa May. She wanted legal assurances on the Irish backstop to help her deal get through Parliament after she delayed a Commons vote in anticipation of defeat.
Friday, December 14th 2018 - 08:33 UTC
Falklands approves government financed travel credit for residents: £1,826 in five years

The Falkland Islands' Executive Council approved travel credit scheme legislation at the December 12 meeting. The scheme will give £1 a day to residents over the age of 18 with Falklands status and 50p to those under the age of 18 with status.
Friday, December 14th 2018 - 08:28 UTC
Falklands' government operating surplus stands at £9.4 million

The Falkland Islands Government Standing Finance Committee heard on Wednesday that the forecast operating surplus for the whole of the year now stands at £9.4 million. Expenditure is expected to ramp up over the remainder of the financial year, with plenty of infrastructure work being scheduled for the summer months.
Friday, December 14th 2018 - 07:01 UTC
HMS Montrose enjoys warm welcome in Chile

HMS Montrose joined Chile’s party of the year as the country celebrated the 200th birthday of its Navy. The frigate was invited to join old friends – former British warships HMS Grafton, Sheffield and Marlborough, now serving under the Chilean flag – and make new friends in the port of Valparaiso where a series of high-profile anniversary events were staged over nine days.