Stories for March 2017

Thursday, March 9th 2017 - 11:28 UTC
Brazilian economy two-year contraction is slowing

Brazilian services activity contracted at the slowest pace in two years in February, contributing to signs that Latin America's economy may soon turn the corner on a deep recession. The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for Brazilian services, compiled by research firm Markit, rose to 46.4 in February from 45.1 in January, hitting its highest mark since March 2015.
Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 13:50 UTC
Australia's “Angry Summer” breaks more than 200 weather records

More than 200 weather records were broken during Australia's most recent summer, a climate group has warned. The Climate Council report, titled “Angry Summer”, said the season was defined by intense heat-waves and bushfires in eastern Australia but heavy rain and flooding in the west.
Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 12:08 UTC
UK has made a “bad choice at a bad time” with Brexit, argues Hollande

Britain will not be able to hang on to the benefits of European Union membership once it has left, French president Francois Hollande has warned. Hollande, who leaves office in May, said the UK had made a “bad choice at a bad time” in voting for Brexit.
Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 10:39 UTC
Falklands' population better off, healthier and happier than when the 2012 Census

The Falklands population continues to grow, is generally better off, healthier and happy with the roof over their heads, than four years ago when the last Census was conducted. Maeve Daly, Statistics and Performance Officer of FIG’s Policy Unit presented the ‘headlines’ of the latest Census, at a Public Meeting last week.
Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 10:32 UTC
UK will prioritize a Brexit safety net fund in the budget, says Chancellor Hammond

United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has signalled he will prioritise building up a Brexit safety net fund ahead of launching a spending spree in Wednesday’s Budget.
Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 10:21 UTC
Cristina Fernandez in court declares she is victim of “judicial and media prosecution”

Argentina's ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner fended off corruption allegations in court on Tuesday, claiming she was the victim of “judicial and media persecution” backed by economic forces, at a politically delicate time for the recession-hit country.
Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 10:12 UTC
Brazil's worst-ever recession continued during 2016, GDP drops 3.6%

Brazil’s economic woes continue as the country’s worst-ever recession unexpectedly deepened at the end of last year. Gross domestic product contracted by 0.9% between October and December. For all of 2016 it dropped by 3.6%; almost as bad as in 2015 with a 3.8% slump. It was the eighth straight quarter of contraction.
Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 09:58 UTC
Falklands' defense renewal with Israeli sophisticated equipment triggers controversy

Britain has awarded £153 million (US$ 187 million) worth of contracts to equip the Falkland Islands with a new ground-based air-defense system known as Sky Sabre, the Ministry of Defense has confirmed, according to Defense News.
Wednesday, March 8th 2017 - 09:42 UTC
Argentina: “The honeymoon with the Macri administration is over” warns analyst Fraga

“The honey moon is over” and the government of President Mauricio Macri must rapidly reconsider its strategy since public opinion is no longer responsive to the expectations of the first fourteen months, according to Argentine political analyst Rosendo Fraga. His analysis was also supported by another political commentator Carlos Pagni, who said all opinion polls indicate a sliding drop in expectations.
Tuesday, March 7th 2017 - 11:35 UTC
The only black member of Trump's cabinet equates slaves with immigrants: social media explodes

In his first speech as United States secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson likened slaves forced to come to America to immigrants seeking a better life. “That’s what America is about, a land of dreams and opportunity,” Carson told hundreds of federal employees Monday.