Stories for January 2019

Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:41 UTC
Brexit plan's five-day debate takes off; Westminster shuts off “no-deal option”

MPs will begin debating Theresa May's Brexit plan again on Wednesday, nearly a month after she postponed the crunch Commons vote on her agreement. There will be five days of discussion on the terms of the UK's withdrawal and future relations with the EU ahead of an expected vote next Tuesday.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:40 UTC
World Bank says global economy is “soft landing”, so far “orderly”

The World Bank is warning of increasing risks, or what it calls “darkening skies”, for the world economy. In its annual assessment of global prospects the Bank predicts continued, though somewhat slower, growth this year and next.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:39 UTC
ExxonMobil resumes exploratory drilling off Guyana; first FPSO expected at the end of the year

US energy company ExxonMobil has started drilling one of two new exploration wells offshore Guyana. It’s the first of two wells to be drilled this month. The world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas company said in a statement that the Stena Carron drillship is drilling the Haimara-1 well, located 19 miles east of the Pluma-1 discovery in the southeast Stabroek Block.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:37 UTC
Ireland extends a friendly hand to embattled PM May's government

Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister has said the country will not stand in the way if the British Government asks for an extension to Article 50. Simon Coveney said they want to avoid a no-deal Brexit scenario as “everyone loses”.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:31 UTC
20-year old student confesses to hacking data of hundreds of high-profile Germans

A 20-year-old man has made a “comprehensive” confession that he was behind a data breach affecting hundreds of high-profile Germans, police say. Styling himself “G0d”, he published private information about politicians, journalists, and celebrities on Twitter, under the username @_0rbit.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:30 UTC
Government shutdown persists as Trump and Democrats clash over US/Mexican border wall funding

United States president Donald Trump has demanded funding for his long-promised US-Mexico border wall to halt “a growing humanitarian and security crisis”. But in his first TV address to the nation from the Oval Office, Mr Trump did not declare a national emergency to bypass Congress and build the barrier.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:26 UTC
EU claims Trump administration has downgraded the block's diplomatic status

EU says the US government has changed the bloc's diplomatic status in Washington, in practice downgrading it. The Trump administration did not notify the EU about the change. The EU has asked the US to explain the move, EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic says.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:09 UTC
Ocean Cruises orders two new Allura class ships: €575 million per ship

Oceania Cruises has announced an order for two new ships from Fincantieri. The ships will be delivered in 2022 and 2025. The two 67,000 gross ton Allura-Class ships will each accommodate approximately 1,200 guests.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 08:07 UTC
London City airport with record of annual passengers last year

London City has published its official passenger figures for 2018, showing the number of travellers passing through the airport last year totalled a record-breaking 4,800,190.
Wednesday, January 9th 2019 - 07:00 UTC
Volatile cruise market: regular lines with rebates of up to 19%, but premiums can be 60% higher

Good news: prices for many cruises in January 2019 are significantly lower than they were a year ago. However, there are major differences by cruise line. While the analysis found that the average cruise price per day actually increased by around 3% – from US$ 397 to US$ 407 per person per night – it also showed substantial price discounts for certain cruise lines.