Time is running out on Brexit, and the UK should remain in a customs union with the EU, the Confederation of British Industry has warned. Carolyn Fairbairn, head of the UK business group, said there was a lack of clarity surrounding ongoing talks about the future of UK-EU trade.
Prospects for the global economy are looking brighter, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), arguing that the recent pick-up has been pretty broad-based, particularly in Europe and Asia. Tax reforms in the United States are expected to stimulate economic activity, especially business investment.
Chile’s foreign minister welcomed Chinese representatives to a meeting with Latin American and Caribbean countries and praised Beijing for rejecting protectionism as the United States backs away from global trade.
Pope Francis has apologized for remarks he made last week in Chile defending a bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse. He said he realized his words hurt many, but repeated his belief that Chilean Bishop Juan Barros was innocent. Francis was speaking to journalists on board a plane flying back to Rome.
Mexican opposition Senator Gabriela Cuevas said on Sunday she will leave the center-right National Action Party (PAN) to join the campaign of leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who leads polls ahead of July’s presidential election.
Anywhere between 8.000 and 50.000 people are expected to convene on Tuesday to Durazno, central Uruguay, to protest and demand solutions to what is seen as an over bloated government, fiscal strangling, incompetent management of government companies and an overall dissatisfaction with the results of these policies and deaf political ears to the ongoing complaints.
The British Army’s ‘Ice Maiden’ Expedition has become the first all-female team to cross Antarctica using muscle power alone. After spending 62 days on the ice and covering 1700kms, the six soldiers led by Major Nics Wetherill and Major Nat Taylor crossed the finish line at the Hercules Inlet at the weekend (Saturday 20th January).
Argentine president Mauricio Macri arrived on Monday evening to Moscow the first leg of his latest tour of European countries, and the first of 2018, with the purpose of promoting Argentina and attracting investments. In Moscow president Macri and First Lady Juliana Awada are scheduled to meet with president Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
Jaguar Land Rover will cut production of some vehicles amid uncertainty over Brexit and changes to taxes on diesel cars. The company will scale back output of Range Rover Discovery Sport and Evoque models temporarily later this year. Last week, JLR said its global sales hit a record in 2017, but that the UK market was “tough”.
Brazil will head to the polls on October 7 in what is set to be the most polarizing presidential race in living memory. While the final ballot is beginning to take shape, there is still a question mark over the candidacy of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party), who may be ineligible to run after his impending appeals court decision on charges of corruption. The imbroglio surrounding Lula guarantees that however the 2018 election turns out, both sides will feel they have reason to call foul play.