Economy

Wednesday, July 19th 2017 - 15:10 UTC
World Medical Association urges Venezuela to immediately address health situation

The World Medical Association has urged the Venezuelan Government to take immediate action to resolve the country's serious health crisis, which it says has led to increased morbidity, mortality and malnutrition among infants.
Wednesday, July 19th 2017 - 11:05 UTC
UK consumers will no longer suffer surcharges for card payments

British consumers are no longer to be charged extra for paying by debit or credit card, the government has said. From January next year, businesses will not be allowed to add any surcharges for card payments. The worst offenders currently are airlines and food delivery apps, and small businesses which typically add a fee for cards.
Wednesday, July 19th 2017 - 10:57 UTC
Argentina's central bank hikes interest rates to combat high inflation

Argentina's central bank hiked interest rates on its short-term securities on Tuesday in its monthly auction, the second such increase in the past three months as it seeks to soak up pesos and rein in stubbornly high inflation.
Wednesday, July 19th 2017 - 09:18 UTC
Deeper slowdown for UK economy ahead, anticipate business research centers

The UK economy is on course for an even deeper slowdown as consumer spending and business investment take a hit from uncertainty surrounding the Brexit negotiations, new research has found. Britain’s GDP is expected to drop from 1.8% growth last year to 1.5% in 2017 and to 1.4% in 2018, according to PwC’s UK Economic Outlook.
Wednesday, July 19th 2017 - 07:04 UTC
Trump threatens Venezuela with sanctions: Maduro says he will not be intimidated

In a statement released Monday night, President Trump threatened to impose economic sanctions on Venezuela should the nation’s president, Nicolas Maduro, follow through on his pledge to create a “constituent assembly” capable of rewriting Venezuela’s constitution.
Tuesday, July 18th 2017 - 07:45 UTC
Temer woos the “beef caucus” by regularizing land-grabs in the Brazilian Amazon

Land-grabbing follows a long well-established pattern in the Brazilian Amazon, closely linked to lobbies and political interests, and again as in previous circumstances, this time embattled president Michel Temer signed legislation, previously approved by Congress, which regularizes such illegal claims.
Tuesday, July 18th 2017 - 07:30 UTC
Argentine administration props the housing and construction industry ahead of mid term elections

Argentina's new subsidized mortgage scheme is gathering steam, boosting construction activity and winning over the middle class ahead of mid-term elections in October that will determine the future of President Mauricio Macri's market-friendly agenda and his attempts to put the country's accounts in order.
Tuesday, July 18th 2017 - 07:24 UTC
Pleasant surprise from Far East: Chinese economy grows at annualized 6.9%

China's economy grew at an annual rate of 6.9% between April and June according to official figures, slightly higher than forecast. The growth rate, which compares expansion with the same three months in the previous year, was the same as in the first quarter of 2017.
Tuesday, July 18th 2017 - 05:43 UTC
Complicated start for Brexit discussion in Brussels; PM May orders cabinet to stop infighting

Negotiations regarding Britain's exit from the European Union resumed on Monday in Brussels, and Britain's prime minister warned her feuding cabinet to stop its infighting. David Davis, the Britain's Brexit secretary, began four days of talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels, but flew home to London after only three hours of negotiation.
Tuesday, July 18th 2017 - 05:32 UTC
UK/Gibraltar will establish a consultation mechanism on trade agreements

UK and Gibraltar will establish a mechanism to ensure Gibraltar is consulted on any trade agreements negotiated by Britain outside the EU, both governments said in a joint statement.