Stories for October 2018

Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 08:42 UTC
Ireland insists a Brexit transition period is not an alternative for backstop proposal

An extended Brexit transition period is not an alternative to the EU’s backstop proposal, Irish premier Leo Varadkar has warned. The Taoiseach said he is open to the idea of an extension but it fails to resolve the border issue.
Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 08:42 UTC
Brexit has the Conservative party unity under “existential strain”

The Conservative Party has been put under “existential strain” by Brexit and some friendships and relationships will “never be healed”, according to a former cabinet minister. Nicky Morgan, the Tory chairwoman of the Treasury Committee, laid bare the personal toll on MPs divided over the merits of the UK’s departure from the European Union as she insisted she still believes the party can come back together.
Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 08:37 UTC
Moody's cuts Italy's credit rating and EC warns over 2019 budget plans

Moody's has cut Italy's credit rating by a notch over concerns about plans for larger deficits and the high public debt load as the country's populist government clashes with Brussels over its budget. The European Commission formally warned Italy late Thursday that its budget plans for 2019 are a serious concern, launching a high-stakes process that could see Rome hit with unprecedented sanctions for breaking commitments to Brussels.
Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 08:33 UTC
China's growth cools to its weakest since the global financial crisis

China's economic growth cooled to its weakest quarterly pace since the global financial crisis, with regulators moving quickly to calm nervous investors as a years-long campaign to tackle debt risks and the trade war with the United States began to bite.
Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 07:15 UTC
Bolsonaro, not the best choice for Brazil, say 350 economists in open declaration

More than 350 economists, among them a Nobel Prize winner, have signed a declaration saying Brazil's frontrunner to be president, far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro, is not the best choice for his country.
Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 07:00 UTC
Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi was killed at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman removed a key royal adviser and a senior intelligence official as the public prosecutor said an initial probe showed that journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul.
Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 06:36 UTC
Gibraltar, not a problem to reach a Brexit agreement, says Spain

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez both sent positive signals about the progress of Brexit talks relating to Gibraltar, effectively confirming the Rock’s inclusion in any withdrawal and transitional arrangements to soften the process of leaving the EU.
Friday, October 19th 2018 - 18:15 UTC
Ecuador, Venezuela sever diplomatic ties due to improper accusations

The government of President Lenin Moreno Thursday expelled Venezuela's ambassador in Quito and the Nicolás Maduro regime hit back by ordering the Ecuadorian chargé d'affairs out of Caracas. Ambassador Carol Delgado was sent back to Venezuela and Ecuador's Elizabeth Mendez was ordered to leave Caracas.
Friday, October 19th 2018 - 11:20 UTC
Chile: eighth consecutive increase in price of fuel finally draws Piñera's attention

President Sebastián Piñera Thursday ordered his cabinet to seek ways to stop the trend, following the eighth increase in the price of petrol in as many weeks
Friday, October 19th 2018 - 10:18 UTC
Dollar, prices go up in inflation-ridden Argentina

The US dollar rose 22 cents against the Argentine peso and closed at a 1 US$/ AR$37.50 parity on Thursday. It was the second day in a row for an upward trend following seven straight slumps.