Economy

Tuesday, December 11th 2018 - 08:35 UTC
French president yields to weeks of protests and rolls back most reforms

French president Emmanuel Macron has promised a minimum wage rise and tax concessions in response to weeks of violent protests. France has seen four weekends of violent protests against fuel tax rises, living costs and other issues. Speaking in a televised address, Mr. Macron condemned the violence but said the protesters' anger was “deep, and in many ways legitimate”.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 06:02 UTC
Mrs. May expected to lose the Tuesday vote on her Brexit deal, but will stay on

Commons vote on Tuesday will not be delayed, the Brexit Secretary has said, amid growing calls for the PM to go back to Brussels to renegotiate. Stephen Barclay also said Theresa May could stay in post if, as expected, MPs reject her Brexit plan.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 05:51 UTC
US/China trade negotiations have a deadline: March first, says Lighthizer

U.S.-China trade negotiations need to reach a successful end by March 1 or new tariffs will be imposed, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Sunday, clarifying there is a “hard deadline” after a week of seeming confusion among President Donald Trump and his advisers.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 05:38 UTC
Brazil incoming energy minister favors nuclear and wind power; “hydro has reached its limit”

Brazil’s incoming mines and energy minister, Bento Albuquerque, supports more nuclear and wind power development to diversify the country’s energy matrix, while saying hydropower had reached its limit, newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 05:30 UTC
Ecuador expects to renegotiate debt with China; president off to Beijing

Ecuador plans to renegotiate the terms of its debt to China, President Lenin Moreno said ahead of a trip to Beijing, adding that a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for additional financing was possible.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:22 UTC
The idea of a “Norway plus” plan is floated ahead of Tuesday's Brexit vote

The UK should pursue the so-called “Norway plus” option - if Theresa May's Brexit plan is rejected by MPs on Tuesday, according to Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd. In an interview with The Times, Ms Rudd said she still supported the PM's plan - but added a variation of Norway's set-up was the best alternative.
Friday, December 7th 2018 - 02:32 UTC
Venezuela, Russia sign bilateral cooperation agreements in Moscow

Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro Thursday announced he had signed a series of bilateral agreements during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The cooperation accords are on mining, oil, telecommunications, weapons and food.
Thursday, December 6th 2018 - 09:38 UTC
Commons debate to be focused on Brexit's economic effects

Brexit's economic effects will be the focus of a Commons debate later, as government whips work behind the scenes to gain support for Theresa May's deal. Ministers will say it creates a unique partnership with the EU, while Labour argues it will make people poorer.
Thursday, December 6th 2018 - 09:32 UTC
YPF and Malaysia's Petrona committed to invest US$ 2.3bn in Vaca Muerta

Argentina's state-run energy company YPF and Malaysia's Petronas agreed this week to invest US$ 2.3 billion in a shale oil project in Vaca Muerta, with a target of reaching 60,000 b/d of oil equivalent by 2022. The investment will be in La Amarga Chica, where the companies have been testing the shale oil potential since 2015 and have spent US$ 550 million to date in the process, YPF said in a statement.
Thursday, December 6th 2018 - 09:00 UTC
Scottish Parliament voted to formally reject UK's draft Brexit deal

The Scottish Parliament has voted by 92 to 29 to formally reject the UK government's draft Brexit deal. SNP, Labour, Green and Lib Dem members at Holyrood backed a motion rejecting the proposals, as well as the prospect of leaving without any deal. However, the parties have not come to a consensus on an alternative plan.