The United States consumer prices were unchanged in November, held back by a sharp decline in the price of gasoline, but underlying inflation pressures remained firm amid rising rents and healthcare costs. The strength in underlying inflation reported by the Labor Department on Wednesday supports views that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its Dec. 18-19 policy meeting. The U.S. central bank has hiked rates three times this year.
More than 200 people have come forward with complaints of sexual abuse by a Brazilian faith healer, authorities said on Wednesday. The accusations against Joao Teixeira de Faria, who uses the name Joao de Deus in his practice, began last week after several alleged victims spoke on a Globo News television program of sexual violence going back years.
Spain's minimum wage will jump by 22% in 2019 - the largest annual increase in more than 40 years. It means millions of low-paid workers could see a pay rise from €736 ($835; £665) to €900, effective from January. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the increase on Wednesday, declaring a rich country cannot have poor workers.
The Brazilian central bank on Wednesday held interest rates at an all-time low, as widely expected, and hinted that it will hold off from raising them for longer than expected. The bank’s nine-member monetary policy committee, Copom, kept the benchmark Selic rate at 6.50 percent for a sixth straight meeting.
Prime Minister Theresa May has won a vote of confidence in her leadership of the Conservative Party by 200 to 117. After securing 63% of the total vote, she is now immune from a leadership challenge for a year. Speaking in Downing Street, she vowed to deliver the Brexit people voted for but said she had listened to the concerns of MPs who voted against her.
The Executive Council has today Wednesday authorised the Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands Government to complete the necessary negotiations with LATAM Airlines Brazil and to finalise a contract, subject to agreement with MLAs, to establish and operate a new weekly route between Sao Paulo and the Falkland Islands.
Lake Nahuel Huapi has been receiving around 75 million litres of untreated sewage for the past three days due to the maintenance and removal of materials in the Elevator Station of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bariloche and environmentalist organisations have already filed for an amparo remedy to stop the spill.
The pound has risen amid speculation that Prime Minister Theresa May will win the vote of confidence in her leadership on Wednesday evening. The currency is trading 1.4% higher against the dollar at $1.2660 and 0.9% higher against the euro at €1.1132.
A study carried out by Harvard University economists Dany Bahar and Douglas Barrios reveals that at least 8.2 million Venezuelan citizens would leave during 2019 their country to escape the economic and political crisis that Venezuela is experiencing.
In Argentina, a movement in support of the accusation of rape that the actress Thelma Fardín presented against the actor and singer Juan Darthes caused a stir and support with the hashtag #MiraComoNosPonemos (Look how we get) on Tuesday through social networks. Darthes carries several complaints about the sexual abuse of several actresses with whom he worked.