Economy

Wednesday, December 12th 2018 - 08:21 UTC
Tory Brexiteers confident they can force a no confidence vote in Theresa May

Tory Brexiteers are increasingly confident they have enough support to trigger a no-confidence vote in Theresa May as party leader. If 48 Conservative MPs submit letters to say they no longer support her, a leadership challenge will be launched. There is no confirmation but sources, including a cabinet minister, have said they believe 48 letters have been sent.
Wednesday, December 12th 2018 - 07:19 UTC
Huawei conflict: Trump intervenes; Ms Meng granted bail in Canadian court

Donald Trump says he could intervene in the case of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou if it helps to avoid a further decline in US relations with China. “Whatever's good for this country, I would do,” the US president said.
Wednesday, December 12th 2018 - 06:37 UTC
Mexico to invest US$ 30bn in the “Central American conundrum” and improve migration relations with US

Mexico will invest more than US$ 30 billion in its poor southern states over the next five years, the foreign minister said, boosting the region economically as part of efforts to curb migration. Under pressure from the United States, Mexico is grappling to halt the northward flow of migrants fleeing violence and poverty in Central America.
Wednesday, December 12th 2018 - 06:28 UTC
Ex PM John Major calls to revoke Brexit and involving parliament and people in “a serious reflection”

Britain must revoke its notice to quit the European Union with immediate effect to allow for “serious and profound reflection” by both parliament and the people, former Prime Minister John Major said on Tuesday.
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.