Economy

• Thursday, January 5th 2017 - 09:54 UTC

  Olympic Games help Brazil break record of visitors last year: 6.6 million, 2 million from Argentina

  

  Brazil saw a record number of international tourists in 2016, boosted by the first Olympic Games held in South America, official data showed on Wednesday. A total 6.6 million international travelers visited Brazil last year, the tourism ministry said, 4.8% higher than the year before.

• Thursday, January 5th 2017 - 09:47 UTC

  Trump nominates Wall Street lawyer to head Securities and Exchange Commission

  

  President-elect Donald Trump said on Wednesday he plans to nominate Wall Street lawyer Jay Clayton to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulates financial markets in the U.S. Clayton currently works as a partner with the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell where he specializes in public and private mergers and has worked on several high-profile initial public offerings.

• Thursday, January 5th 2017 - 09:21 UTC

  Marine Le pen calls for new French currency and pledges referendum on EU membership

  

  Front National leader Marine Le Pen has called for a new French currency and pledged to hold a referendum on the country’s membership of the European Union if she is elected French President later this year.

• Thursday, January 5th 2017 - 08:04 UTC

  Maduro reshuffles economic team and names new combative vice-president

  

  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday shuffled his cabinet by naming a new economy czar to oversee the OPEC country's decaying populist system and a new oil minister to confront the economic difficulties caused by low oil prices. He also appointed a new vice-president, state governor Tarek El Aissami, a hard liner that could replace Maduro if he is forced to step down.

• Thursday, January 5th 2017 - 07:50 UTC

  Beijing's “airpocalypse” red alert for smog and yellow alert for fog

  

  On Wednesday, Beijing was under a “red alert” for smog, the highest of four levels, and a “yellow alert” for fog. Other areas, particularly in northern China were still under red alert as of Wednesday for both fog and smog. The high pollution has been going on for a number of weeks, causing flight delays, and leading to traffic bans, as part of what is called “smog season” or “airpocalypse.”

• Thursday, January 5th 2017 - 07:38 UTC

  London-Santiago direct flights inaugurated on Wednesday

  

  The new direct flight London-Santiago de Chile inaugurated on Wednesday should help increase the number of visitors from Britain and Europe, said Chilean authorities when they received the British Airways flight at the Chilean capital airport.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2017 - 11:38 UTC

  Venezuelan military fully involved in food staples illegal marketing and hoarding

  

  The Venezuelan military is selling food staples at up to 100 times the government-mandated costs in illegal marketplaces, according to an independent media investigation. The black markets are carried out at all levels of the military from foot soldiers on up to generals.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2017 - 11:12 UTC

  Good weather prospects for Brazil's anticipated record soybean crop

  

  Rain showers forecast for this week should benefit soybean crops across Brazil and should not be heavy enough to hamper harvesting of the first shipments of the 2016-17 season, meteorologists said on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2017 - 09:13 UTC

  UK ambassador to EU steps down criticizing preparations for Brexit negotiations

  

  UK's ambassador to the European Union urged British colleagues in Brussels to challenge “muddled thinking and... speak truth to power” as he quit ahead of Brexit talks, according to the BBC. Writing to staff, Sir Ivan Rogers said ministers needed to hear “unvarnished” and “uncomfortable” views from Europe.

• Tuesday, January 3rd 2017 - 19:57 UTC

  Argentina reinstates refunds for agriculture exports

  

  Argentina has decided to reinstate refunds for agriculture exports, responding to a promise to the provinces from president Mauricio Macri but also to prop foreign trade and boost the most dynamic sector of an anemic economy. The fiscal cost is estimated in 165 million dollars and is extensive to wheat flour, beef, sunflower oil, powder milk, cheese, honey and other produce from the provinces.