Politics

Saturday, August 2nd 2014 - 08:06 UTC
US Senate looks into passenger protection on Caribbean cruise ships

There could have been few places where the old adage “worse things happen at sea” seemed more appropriate than a recent US Senate Commerce Committee hearing in which members were regaled with Caribbean cruise ship passengers’ horror stories of everything from rape and violence to seeping sewage and hallways lined with bags of feces.
Saturday, August 2nd 2014 - 07:56 UTC
Ebola outbreak 'out of control' but 'can be stopped' said world's top health official

West Africa's Ebola outbreak is out of control but it can be stopped, World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan said on Friday at a meeting in Conakry, capital of Guinea.
Saturday, August 2nd 2014 - 07:48 UTC
Growing concerns the Ebola outbreak could spread globally by travelers

Concerns have been expressed about the possibility of the current Ebola outbreak spreading globally after an infected airline passenger introduced the deadly virus to Nigeria. All outbreaks since 1976, when Ebola was first identified, have been confined to rural and forested areas in Africa, with the previous highest death toll being 280.
Saturday, August 2nd 2014 - 04:08 UTC
Griesa orders Argentina/holdouts to resume negotiations and an end to 'misleading information'

US District Judge Thomas Griesa presiding over Argentina's bitter dispute with two hedge funds left the country stranded in default on Friday, ordering it to hold new negotiations and calling for an end to “mistrust”. In a stern tone Griesa slammed the decision by Argentina to defy his order that it pay in full holdout investors and instead opted to default on 29 billion dollars in debt.
Friday, August 1st 2014 - 09:10 UTC
Mercosur finally agrees on joint trade proposal to exchange with the EU

Mercosur members finally agreed this week on a draft joint proposal to be presented to the European Union with the purpose of negotiating a long delayed trade and cooperation agreement with EU, according to Uruguayan diplomatic sources.
Friday, August 1st 2014 - 08:57 UTC
Hedge fund Aurelius denies any serious proposition to buy its holdout bonds

Aurelius Capital Management has shot down speculation that the hedge fund was fielding a viable private-sector proposal for selling its untendered Argentine sovereign debt in a bid to shorten the amount of time Argentina is in default.
Friday, August 1st 2014 - 08:42 UTC
UBS calls on Swaps Association to ask if a “failure to pay” event had occurred

The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) said on Thursday it had received its first request to consider whether a credit event had occurred, according to the ISDA website.
Friday, August 1st 2014 - 08:33 UTC
US calls on Argentine government to seek 'practical solutions' with holdouts

Kevin Sullivan, US interim ambassador in Argentina affirmed on Thursday that the country must seek “practical solutions” with the 'holdouts' or the so called vulture funds over defaulted bonds.
Friday, August 1st 2014 - 08:24 UTC
Argentine shares and bonds plunge, while US dollar climbs as operators seek refuge

Argentine shares and bonds plunged on Thursday as investors reacted to the failed negotiations between Argentina and the holdout hedge funds in New York. At the Buenos Aires City stock market the Merval index closed down by 8.4% to 8,187.99 points, far from yesterday’s record 6.9% climb.
Friday, August 1st 2014 - 08:08 UTC
Catalonia's independence referendum is on, underlines president Mas

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Catalan President Artur Mas failed to break the deadlock over Catalonia’s independence drive, with both holding firm on their positions when they met for the first time in a year.