Stories for December 2015

Monday, December 14th 2015 - 08:17 UTC
Brazil's harvest for 2016 estimated at 209.3 million tons, slight drop from 2015

Brazil's harvest in 2016 will reach 209.3 million tons, which is 0.5% less than in 2015 according to the estimates from the Brazilian stats institute, IBGE. The fall is related to less crops of oilseeds, cereals and legumes in the centre west of the vast country, which is also the main farming area, as well as in the north.
Monday, December 14th 2015 - 08:03 UTC
A compliment disguised as a joke wins a glass of wine...in the face

One of Brazil’s most powerful women says she was only defending her honor when she tossed a glass of white wine in the face of an equally powerful elected official who called her a “man-eater.”
Monday, December 14th 2015 - 07:49 UTC
Moody's downgrades Petrobras credit rating; warns of difficulties to raise cash through asset sales

Moody's Investors Service has lowered Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petrobras' credit rating further into junk territory and warned of a possible further downgrade. “These rating actions reflect Petrobras' elevated refinancing risks in the face of deteriorating industry conditions that make it more difficult to raise cash through asset sales,” the New York-based ratings agency said Wednesday.
Monday, December 14th 2015 - 07:28 UTC
Rousseff's 'impeachment debate' takes to the streets with thousands turning out

Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets on Sunday to demand that embattled President Dilma Rousseff, facing a weak economy and a major political crisis including calls for her impeachment, be removed from office.
Monday, December 14th 2015 - 07:07 UTC
Sarkozy conservatives take the day beating Le Pen's National Front

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Front failed to take a single region during the runoff of regional elections after dominating the first round of voting, pollsters projected. The conservatives of former president Nicolas Sarkozy surged against the governing Socialists, changing the political map of France.
Saturday, December 12th 2015 - 07:11 UTC
Argentina's new administration package of economic measures next week

Argentine finance minister Alfonso Prat-Gay announced on Friday that next week levies on farm (grains and oilseeds) exports will be lowered, the half year bonus of wage earners if below 30.000 Argentine Pesos will be exempt from income tax, and the policy of “looked-after prices” at supermarkets will continue.
Saturday, December 12th 2015 - 07:03 UTC
US crude futures trade at $35, lowest since February 2009; in one week price dropped 10%

United States crude futures fell sharply on Friday plunging below $36 a barrel for the first time in more than seven years, after a bearish report from the International Energy Agency projected that global energy markets will remain vastly oversupplied for at least the immediate near future.
Saturday, December 12th 2015 - 06:56 UTC
Petrobras not selling any stake of its giant Libra offshore oil prospect

Petrobras, is not considering selling a 10% stake in its giant Libra offshore oil prospect at this time, Brazil's state-run oil company said on Friday. Petrobras was responding to a report on Tuesday that industry sources had been told by the company that the Libra stake was on offer.
Saturday, December 12th 2015 - 04:18 UTC
“Mama Merkel” or Euro-zone “austerity priestess”, the German chancellor is Time's person of the year

Time magazine named German Chancellor Angela Merkel as its person of the year for 2015, hailing her leadership during debt and refugee crises that threatened to tear the European Union apart. In power for a decade at the helm of Europe's biggest economy, the world's most powerful woman beat runners-up, the leader of the Islamic State extremist group and Donald Trump as Time's dominant personality of the year.
Saturday, December 12th 2015 - 04:09 UTC
Infantino will lead UEFA's Euro 2016 draw in Paris; Platini's 90 day ban stands

Michel Platini cannot take part in UEFA’s Euro 2016 draw in Paris on Saturday after losing his appeal against a 90-day FIFA ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The decision Friday means he also won’t be able to participate in the UEFA Executive Committee meeting before the draw.