Stories for March 23rd 2023

Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:55 UTC
Uruguayans go on strike against social security reforms

Uruguayans were preparing for a disruptive Thursday as unions and other groups are to stage nationwide strikes to protest against President Luis Lacalle Pou's initiative to make adjustments to the pension system and increase the retirement age despite his campaign promises otherwise.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:55 UTC
Bali, Indonesia will host the Special Committee on Decolonization, Pacific Region

The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization approved the guidelines and rules of procedure for its 2023 Pacific Regional Seminar, which will be held in Bali, Indonesia, from 24 to 26 May.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:53 UTC
Argentine gov't to pesify state-held securities in foreign currency

Argentina's Economy Minister Sergio Massa and his aides held a working lunch Wednesday with a group of businessmen from banks, insurance companies, and investment funds, during which the new measures adopted to control a ballooning exchange rate between the local currency and the US dollar were outlined.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:51 UTC
Brazil would like to see Argentina join BRICS, FM says

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told the website Metrópoles that his country would like to have Argentina join the BRICS group, but insisted that for such a move to happen it would depend on the consensus from the other bloc members (Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:50 UTC
10 Downing Street “Partygate”, countdown for Boris Johnson's political future

Former British prime minister Boris Johnson faced over three hours of grilling before a parliamentary committee that is investigating whether or not he knowingly misled Parliament regarding breaches of Covid 19 protocol and rules inside 10 Downing Street when he was head of government.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:48 UTC
In a display of firmness, the Fed increases the key interest rate by a quarter point

Despite concerns of a possible recession and increased banking turmoil, the U.S. Federal Reserve extended its year-long fight against high inflation on Wednesday by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:45 UTC
Brazil central bank keeps rate unchanged despite Lula's government complaints, “the highest in the world”

The Brazilian Central kept interest rates unchanged for the fifth consecutive policy meeting on Wednesday, increasing concern and criticism from the government of president Lula da Silva. The bank's rate-setting committee, Copom, maintained its Selic benchmark interest rate at 13.75%. The decision, which defied intense pressure from the government of Lula da Silva, matched the expectations of analysts.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:35 UTC
China's pork industry again faces an outbreak of African swine fever

A surge in African swine fever infections in China is set to reduce hog output later this year, farm managers and analysts said this week, pushing up prices in the world’s top pork consumer as demand recovers.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:30 UTC
Brazil confident China's beef market is recovering, but at lower prices

The price of beef (fresh, chilled or frozen) exported by Brazil mainly to China in the first week of February maintained the downward trend of the last eight months, but, according to analysts, the trend now is for prices to recover in the rest of the year, although to levels lower than those observed in June.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023 - 10:29 UTC
New team of prosecutors to investigate former Paraguayan President Cartes

A new team of prosecutors created this week by Attorney General Emiliano Rolón will investigate former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes for alleged false statements in the Pandora Papers inquiry and for his involvement in the operations of the Venezuelan-Iranian Boeing 747-300 freighter and its 18 crew members.