Stories for 2017

Monday, August 7th 2017 - 07:21 UTC
Lord King calls for a “credible fallback”, in case no EU trade deal is reached

The UK needs a “credible fallback” in case no EU trade deal is reached during Brexit negotiations, former Bank of England governor Mervyn King has said. Lord King said British negotiators needed to show Brussels the country has an alternative over a bad trade deal post-Brexit.
Monday, August 7th 2017 - 07:13 UTC
UK top ex diplomat says cabinet divided on Brexit and government has still to put forward a clear position

The UK's Brexit negotiations have not begun well amid “differences” inside the cabinet, a former head of the diplomatic service has said. Sir Simon Fraser, chief mandarin at the Foreign Office until 2015, said the UK side had been “a bit absent” from formal negotiations in Brussels.
Monday, August 7th 2017 - 06:27 UTC
Cristina Kirchner/Macri dispute Buenos Aires province Senate seat

With less than a week to the Argentine primaries next Sunday to chose candidates for the October midterm election, the dispute in the province of Buenos Aires which concentrates 35% of the national electorate is particularly interesting as decisive since ex president Cristina Fernandez has good chances of winning the Senate bench.
Monday, August 7th 2017 - 06:20 UTC
Banks leaving The City is serious, but “we should be concerned with investors leaving UK”

Investors pulling money out of The City pose a greater risk to London’s financial dominance than banks exiting the UK because of Brexit, according to Square Mile official, Sherry Madera, the City of London Corporation’s special adviser for Asia.
Sunday, August 6th 2017 - 22:38 UTC
Bumper crops anticipate tough corn battle between leading exporters US and Brazil

Brazilian farmers are in the midst of collecting their biggest corn harvest ever, and American supplies are also plentiful -- setting the stage for a stiff battle to win world buyers in the second half of the year.
Sunday, August 6th 2017 - 11:58 UTC
US unemployment drops to 4.3%, but hourly earnings remain flat

The United States economy added a solid 209,000 jobs in July, exceeding economists’ estimates as the labor market shows few signs of slowing down. The unemployment rate last month fell to 4.3% from 4.4%, the Labor Department reported on Friday.
Sunday, August 6th 2017 - 04:53 UTC
UN, including Beijing., agrees tough sanctions on North Korea banning more than a third of the country's exports

The United Nations Security Council approved tough new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday including a ban on coal and other exports totaling more than US$1 billion — a huge bite in its total exports, valued at US$3 billion last year. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley praised the new sanctions, telling council members after the vote that it is “the single largest economic package ever leveled against the North Korean regime.”
Sunday, August 6th 2017 - 00:23 UTC
Venezuela suspended indefinitely: “Without democracy, you can't be part of Mercosur”

Mercosur foreign ministers meeting on Saturday in Brazil suspended Venezuela indefinitely for failing to uphold democratic norms amid an intensifying crackdown on dissent in the country. The bloc previously suspended Venezuela in December for failing to uphold commitments it made when it joined the group in 2012.
Sunday, August 6th 2017 - 00:10 UTC
Maduro's assembly sacks dissident attorney general; next target elected members of the Legislative

The newly installed constitutional assembly ousted Venezuela's defiant chief prosecutor on Saturday, a sign that President Nicolas Maduro's embattled government intends to move swiftly against critics and consolidate power amid a fast-moving political crisis.
Saturday, August 5th 2017 - 11:49 UTC
Brexit will happen despite the “density of problems” says Juncker

Brexit will still happen despite the UK becoming more aware of the “density of problems” during withdrawal negotiations, Jean-Claude Juncker has said. The European Commission president indicated he disagreed with the Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat, who reportedly said last week he saw “hopeful signs” that “Brexit will not happen”.