Economy

• Tuesday, December 19th 2017 - 11:21 UTC

  Markets and investors cheer Piñera, but he faces a determined opposition in Congress

  

  Billionaire conservative Sebastian Piñera will begin a second term as Chile's president in March with a strong mandate after trouncing his center-left opponent in Sunday's election, and local markets soared on hopes of more investor-friendly policies.

• Monday, December 18th 2017 - 13:35 UTC

  Russia again becomes main supplier of oil for Cuban refinery

  

  Venezuela has pulled out of a partnership with Cuba in its Cienfuegos oil refinery and the Caribbean island has taken full ownership of the plant, Cuban state media said. Venezuela is grappling with an economic crisis that already forced it to slash cheap oil shipments to Cuba, which has had a knock-on effect on the island’s ailing economy.

• Monday, December 18th 2017 - 07:16 UTC

  Argentina ready for another attempt to approve the pension reform bill on Monday

  

  The government of Argentina has decided to vote on the pension reform bill on Monday amid speculation that President Mauricio Macri's administration could use a decree to fast-track the legislation.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 14:53 UTC

  Brazilian beef exporters expect a record year in 2018: 1.68 million tons

  

  Brazilian beef exporters expect shipments to grow 10% in 2018 after rising an estimated 9% this year despite corruption and food safety scandals that temporarily closed off major markets. Trade group Abiec on Thursday said Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, would likely sell 1.68 million tons of beef abroad next year, up from 1.53 million tons in 2017. Revenue is expected to rise about 11% to US$6.9 billion in 2018, after a 13% rise this year to US$6.2 billion.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 10:56 UTC

  Russian wheat for Brazil as Moscow and Brasilia look to increase bilateral trade

  

  Brazil’s government published a decree laying out procedures importers will have to follow to be able to buy and unload Russian wheat in Brazil, a step aimed at improving trade ties with Moscow. The decree, which takes effect immediately, outlines the documents importers will have to submit to bring Russian wheat to be processed in Brazil, which had not been previously allowed.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 10:50 UTC

  Brazil postpones until February 19 vote on bill to reform pensions system

  

  The lower house of Brazil’s Congress will delay a vote on a bill trimming social security benefits until Feb. 19, Speaker Rodrigo Maia said on Thursday, pushing a decision on the cornerstone of President Michel Temer’s fiscal reforms into an election year.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 08:38 UTC

  Falklands' call for “the world's greenest cruise ship”, MS Roald Amundsen

  

  From an environmental perspective, it’s easy to see how cruise ships have long been one of the harshest modes of travel. They’re big, slow, fuel-hungry, and rife with excess. However, forward-thinking cruise line Hurtigruten is looking to change the game with the launch of what they’re calling “the world’s greenest cruise ship.”

• Thursday, December 14th 2017 - 17:39 UTC

  EU warns UK there is no “backtracking” on the divorce deal reached by PM May in Brussels

  

  Britain and the EU face a “furious race against time” to agree a transition deal and future trade relations within the next 10 months, European Council president Donald Tusk has said. In a letter to the leaders of the 27 remaining EU states ahead of a crucial summit on December 14-15, Mr Tusk urged them to show continued “unity” as Brexit negotiations enter their second phase.

• Thursday, December 14th 2017 - 13:54 UTC

  Federal Reserve increases interest rate by a quarter of a point

  

  The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point - the third rate hike this year. It comes as Fed chair Janet Yellen prepares to leave the role
  after Donald Trump decided to replace her.

• Thursday, December 14th 2017 - 11:45 UTC

  UK government defeated in Brexit key vote; ministers call it a “minor setback”

  

  The British government has been narrowly defeated in a key vote on its Brexit bill after a rebellion by 11 Tory MPs. In a blow to Prime Minister Theresa May, MPs voted to give Parliament a legal guarantee of a vote on the final Brexit deal struck with Brussels.