Stories for March 2018

Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 07:37 UTC
UK inflation drops to 2.7% in February, weakest increase since July 2017

UK inflation was weaker than expected in February easing some of the squeeze on households' spending power but doing little to change bets on a Bank of England rate rise in May. Official data showed consumer prices rose by an annual 2.7% last month, the weakest increase since July of last year and down from a rise of 3.0% in January.
Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 07:29 UTC
Ashes of Professor Hawking will rest next to the grave or Newton at Westminster Abbey

The ashes of Professor Stephen Hawking will be interred next to the grave of Sir Isaac Newton at Westminster Abbey, it has been revealed. The renowned theoretical physicist final resting place will also be near that of Charles Darwin, who was buried there in 1882. Prof Hawking, who had motor neuronal disease, died on 14 March, aged 76, at his home in Cambridge.
Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 07:07 UTC
Mercosur “blocks” talks on auto exports and government procurement contracts, claims EU

European officials said this week that significant obstacles remain to a long-delayed trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur, even as South American officials expressed optimism a deal would be finalized soon.
Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 06:49 UTC
Trump congratulates Putin and announces coming summit; Republicans furious

President Donald Trump congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election during a phone call on Tuesday and the two leaders agreed to hold talks soon. “We will probably get together in the not-too-distant future, so we can discuss arms, we can discuss arms race.” Trump told reporters before an oval office meeting with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 06:41 UTC
Lagarde insists at financial G20: “we should fix the roof while the sun shines”

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde at the conclusion of the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Buenos Aires, reiterated praise for Argentina president Mauricio Macri gradual economic policies, and called on the need for reform in the more advanced economies to ensure sustained, solid growth.
Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 06:09 UTC
Foreign minister Faurie will outline Argentine policy towards Falklands in Congress

Argentine foreign minister Jorge Faurie is expected this Wednesday in Congress to outline president Macri administration's current policy towards the Falkland Islands, mainly negotiations on air links and South Atlantic fisheries conservation.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 11:12 UTC
Putin favors “constructive” dialogue: but just as in love both sides must show an interest

Vladimir Putin has said he is open to “constructive” dialogue with other states after being re-elected president of Russia with an increased majority. Saying there would be no “arms race”, he promised to cut defense spending.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:44 UTC
UK and EU agree on a “large part” of Brexit's implementation period, but issues remain

UK and EU have agreed on a “large part” of the agreement that will lead to the “orderly withdrawal” of the UK. Negotiators Michel Barnier and David Davis said the deal on what the UK calls the implementation period was a “decisive step” in the Brexit process, although some of the issues still to be resolved include the Northern Ireland border.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:20 UTC
“There is simply no time to lose” to avert the loss of water supplies

The world must race to avert disastrous loss of water supplies, Brazil's President Michel Temer told a conference Monday, after the UN said some 5.7 billion people may run short of drinking water by 2050.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:17 UTC
Peruvian president said removing him from office would amount to a coup détat

Peru's embattled President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Monday he was confident of surviving an impeachment vote later this week. “I know that Thursday will be fine,” the conservative leader said in a speech in the Amazonian city of Iquitos.