Stories for December 2018

Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:21 UTC
Another Brexit referendum “plausible” if deadlock in Parliament persists

Another Brexit referendum will become a “plausible” way forward if there is deadlock in Parliament, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has said. She told ITV's Peston show while she did not personally support another vote, the case for one would grow if MPs could not agree another solution.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:20 UTC
IMF Executive Board approves US$7.6 billion disbursement for Argentina

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed on Wednesday the second review of Argentina’s economic performance under the 36-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) that was approved on June 20, 2018.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:14 UTC
European Union starts implementing preparations for a no-deal Brexit

The European Commission says it has started to implement its preparations for a no-deal Brexit - in case the UK leaves the EU without a plan. It has announced temporary measures to try to reduce the impact but says it cannot counter all the problems it expects.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:09 UTC
In best US tradition, Trump says IS has been defeated and withdraws troops from Syria

The Trump administration says US troops are being withdrawn from Syria, after the president said the Islamic State (IS) group had been “defeated”. The Pentagon said it was transitioning to the “next phase of the campaign” but did not give details.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:06 UTC
A third of vintage Scotch whiskeys are found to be fake

More than a third of vintage Scotch whiskeys tested at a specialist laboratory has been found to be fake, BBC Scotland has learned. Twenty-one out of 55 bottles of rare Scotch were deemed to be outright fakes or whiskeys not distilled in the year declared.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 08:59 UTC
Fed raises interest rate but lowers 2019 forecast to two hikes in 2019

The United States Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate on Wednesday for a fourth time this year but lowered its forecast to two hikes in 2019 amid the recent stock market sell-off and uncertain growth prospects.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 08:51 UTC
United States prosecutor suing Facebook for the Cambridge Analytical scandal

Washington DC's top prosecutor is suing Facebook in the first significant US move to punish the firm for its role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 08:38 UTC
What’s Behind The Crash In Crude?

Oil prices crashed to new one-year lows on Tuesday, dragged down by a deepening sense of global economic gloom as well as fears of oversupply in the oil market itself.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 08:11 UTC
Earthquake rocks Chile's Easter Island, but no tsunami

An earthquake measuring 6.2 degrees on the Richter scale struck Chile's Easter Islands in the South Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, US and Chilean seismic centres reported, while an ensuing tsunami was ruled out.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 06:56 UTC
Lula has to remain in jail while Justices decide on procedural controversy

Brazil's former president Lula da Silva remained in prison on Wednesday as two Supreme Court judges issued competing orders over whether he should be released while he tries to get his graft conviction overturned.