Stories for March 2017

Monday, March 6th 2017 - 10:47 UTC
China lowers growth target to 6.5% and pledges to tackle “zombie enterprises”

The Chinese growth target for this year has been cut to around 6.5%, down from 6.5 to 7% last year, Premier Li Keqiang has announced addressing the country's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), which has gathered in Beijing for its annual session. The Chinese economy expanded at its slowest pace in 26 years in 2016.
Monday, March 6th 2017 - 10:37 UTC
Fed says rate hike in March would be “appropriate” if US economy evolves as expected

Federal Reserve chair Janet L. Yellen said a March rate hike would be “appropriate” if the economy continues to evolve as expected, signaling that the central bank will likely raise its benchmark interest rate sooner than many economists and investors had expected just a few weeks ago.
Monday, March 6th 2017 - 08:52 UTC
Russia displaces Saudi Arabia as world's largest supplier of crude oil

Russia has taken over from Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest supplier of crude oil, according to the Riyadh based Joint Organizations' Data Initiative. Russia pumped 10.49 million barrels a day in December, with Saudi Arabia just behind at 10.46 and the US third at 8.9 million barrels. Iraq came up in fourth place with 5 million barrels.
Monday, March 6th 2017 - 08:43 UTC
Theresa May sends strong warnings to Scottish government: “UK will not drift apart in post-Brexit”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May has warned the Scottish Government that control over policy areas such as fishing and agriculture might not come to Holyrood in the wake of Brexit. PM May said while no powers will be taken away from Scottish ministers as a result of the decision to leave the European Union, responsibilities that transfer back to Britain from Brussels “must sit at the right level to ensure our United Kingdom can operate effectively”.
Monday, March 6th 2017 - 08:33 UTC
If no post-Brexit deal is reached, 'UK can leave without paying a penny', says Lords' report

Britain can legally walk away from the European Union without paying a penny if there is no post-Brexit agreement, a House of Lords inquiry has concluded. The Lords EU Financial Affairs Sub Committee said the UK would be in a “strong” legal position if the two-year Article 50 withdrawal negotiations ended without a deal.
Monday, March 6th 2017 - 08:19 UTC
Chancellor warns EU that UK will “fight back” if it does not reach a Brexit deal it wants

Chancellor Philip Hammond has warned the EU that Britain will “fight back” and not “slink off like a wounded animal” if it does not get the Brexit deal it wants. In some of the toughest talking yet ahead of the UK triggering the Article 50 negotiations on terms of withdrawal, the Chancellor said Britain would “do whatever we need to do” to be competitive in the event of leaving the EU without a trade agreement.
Monday, March 6th 2017 - 06:40 UTC
New Brazilian minister wants closer Mercosur-Pacific Alliance relations

Giving new life to Mercosur and closer links with the Pacific Alliance are the main challenges of his office said Aloysio Nunes, Brazil's new foreign minister. In as brief statement in Facebook the ex senator and chair of the foreign affair committee also insists that Mercosur must open to the world and reach more agreements with other countries and trade spaces.
Saturday, March 4th 2017 - 11:47 UTC
“There are no secret flights” between Falklands and Brazil, says Ambassador Kent

There are no secret flights between Falklands and Brazil, and any landings which have occurred are because of medical or mechanical emergencies, said UK ambassador in Argentina Mark Kent, in fluent Spanish, currently visiting the province of Mendoza on official business and for the grape harvest and wine festival.
Saturday, March 4th 2017 - 11:16 UTC
Identification of soldiers remains buried in Falklands has started, says Argentina

The Argentine Justice ministry's Human Rights and Cultural Pluralism Desk, announced on Friday that the identification process of the remains of the “Argentine heroes” buried in the Falkland Islands Darwin cemetery has started, and is based on the “accord signed between Argentina and the UK”.
Friday, March 3rd 2017 - 13:19 UTC
Brazil investigating if RAF flights to the Falklands landed in the country

The Brazilian government announced it had opened an investigation among miltiary institutions regarding Royal Air Force landings in Brazilian airports, while making flights between Britain and the Falkland/Malvinas Islands.