Stories for December 2016

Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 18:14 UTC
Brazil anticipates blockbuster 2017 harvest and exports

Brazil is getting ready for a blockbuster 2017 harvest and booming exports, amid favorable weather forecasts, according to recent estimates. With a plentiful harvest expected, Brazil’s National Grain Association predicts grain exports will rebound, with soybean exports of 60 MT in 2017, compared with some 51 MT for 2016. Corn exports will increase to 30 MT, compared with some 18.5 MT in 2016, the association reported.
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 18:12 UTC
Petition to impeach President Temer mostly symbolic but erodes his political standing

Brazilian opposition party filed a petition for the impeachment of President Michel Temer, underlining the growing difficulties facing the centre-right leader as he tries to introduce austerity reforms.
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 15:39 UTC
Argentine Senate passes 2017 Budget, caps Executive's “super powers” to reallocate funds at will

The Argentine Senate passed Wednesday the 2017 National Public Administration Budget bill and approved a reform to the Financial Administration Law, which limits the Executive Branch's discretion and power to reallocate budget items.
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 15:30 UTC
Russia ready to do its part as OPEC countries agree on oil output cut

As the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has reached a deal among all 14 members to cut oil production for the first time since 2008, Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said his country was ready to do its part by reducing 300,000 barrels per day in the first half of 2017, provided OPEC adheres to the level of 32.5 mln barrels daily adjusted for Indonesia and on condition of maximum reciprocity from other non-OPEC countries. Russia is not an OPEC member.
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 14:39 UTC
An “ordinary” request: Correa asks all his ministers to hand in their letters of resignation

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has called for the resignation of all his ministers, “an ordinary practice” as the Executive is set to evaluate the state of things, the National Secretariat of Communication (Secom) said Wednesday.
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 14:13 UTC
From dream to nightmare in seconds: Chapecoense fans cry their heroes

Fans of Chapecoense, the Brazilian football club enjoying a fairy tale season until almost wiped out in a plane crash, wept outside the stadium on Tuesday. All year, the once struggling, impoverished club had delighted the people of Chapeco, a city of about 200,000 in Santa Catarina state. Now, only grief remains.
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 14:00 UTC
ºBrazil central bank lowers Selic rate to 13.75%; warns about global uncertainty

Brazil's central bank cut its key interest rate Wednesday for the second month running, as data showed that the recession hitting Latin America's largest economy continued into the third quarter. The central bank lowered the benchmark Selic rate by a quarter of a percentage point, to 13.75% -- still one of the world's highest.
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 13:17 UTC
Falklands' dispute: “I can't see Trump reaching out to Argentina”

Argentina will never be able to reassert its sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands under the watchful eye of Donald Trump who will back Britain, according to Ian Shields OBE, a leading academic and international relations lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and former RAF Group Captain
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 13:01 UTC
UK Faster entry available to Chile with the Registered Traveller Service

Regular visitors to the UK from Chile, as with other founding members of Mercosur, are now eligible to apply to join the UK’s Registered Traveller Service. The Service provides approved members, who have undergone advanced security checks an expedited clearance through the UK border.
Thursday, December 1st 2016 - 12:17 UTC
PM May and Trump talk about UK/US relationship and the role of NATO

Minister Theresa May spoke on Tuesday with President-elect Donald Trump about building close UK-US relationships and about the role of NATO. A Downing Street spokesperson said ”the Prime Minister called the US President-elect this afternoon as part of establishing a regular dialogue between both of them.