Politics

• Thursday, November 2nd 2017 - 07:44 UTC

  Ex FARC leader will run for the presidency of Colombia in 2018

  

  Veteran Farc (Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces) leader Rodrigo Londono — known as ‘Timochenko’ — will run for the presidency of Colombia next year, with the backing of former Farc rebels, the group’s new political party announced. However, he and other ex-commanders will likely face trials for human rights crimes and it is unclear how they would serve in office if sentenced.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2017 - 09:00 UTC

  Brazil's central bank puts off signals about next year's interest rate policy

  

  Brazil’s central bank has decided to put off any signals about its 2018 interest rate decisions, the bank said on Tuesday, leaving the door open for lower rates next year as the economy recovers with inflation under control.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2017 - 08:53 UTC

  Farmers' lobby chief becomes Argentine Agriculture ministry head; ex minister to Brussels to negotiate EU/Mercosur deal

  

  Argentina will replace Agriculture Minister Ricardo Buryaile with Luis Miguel Etchevehere, currently the president of the Argentine Rural Society, the powerful agriculture and livestock industry group, Cabinet Chief Marcos Pena said on Tuesday. Buryaile will next serve as Argentina's ambassador to the European Union.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2017 - 08:46 UTC

  Argentina unveils plan to slash corporate income taxes to promote investment

  

  Argentina plans to cut corporate income taxes to 25% by 2021 for companies that reinvest profits, it said on Tuesday, part of a wide-reaching tax reform bill intended to accelerate investment in Latin America's no.3 economy. The bill, which would slash taxes for companies willing to reinvest in Argentina from 35%, will be sent to Congress in the coming days, Treasury Minister Nicolas Dujovne said.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2017 - 08:27 UTC

  Royal Navy forced into “cannibalization” to meet the shortage of spares

  

  The Royal Navy seems to be copying some of its Latin American peers. In effect the shortage of spares for Royal Navy warships and submarines has forced the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to strip parts from the rest of the fleet, the National Audit Office (NAO) has found.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2017 - 08:17 UTC

  Germany marks the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation

  

  A special religious service is being held in the German town of Wittenberg to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. On this day, 31 October, in 1517, Martin Luther is said to have nailed 95 theses to the door of All Saints' Church in the town.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2017 - 07:52 UTC

  Labour pressing UK government to release 58 Brexit impact studies

  

  The British Labour party is seeking to up the pressure on ministers over their refusal to release a series of Brexit impact studies. The government has confirmed that 58 reports looking at different sectors of the economy have been prepared, but is resisting calls to publish them; saying to do so would undermine the UK's negotiating position.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2017 - 07:17 UTC

  Terrorist attack in Manhattan kills five Argentine tourists

  

  Five of those killed after a terrorist plowed a truck through a Manhattan bike path in New York were Argentine high school pals celebrating three decades of friendship. The Argentine government identified the slain victims as Hernán Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi.

• Tuesday, October 31st 2017 - 08:16 UTC

  Meirelles again mentioned as candidate for a presidential ticket next year

  

  Brazil's Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles insisted on Monday that he is not planning to run for president and told a business meeting he could consider being a vice presidential running mate.

• Tuesday, October 31st 2017 - 07:58 UTC

  Uncertainty and inflation expected to make Bank of England reverse monetary policy

  

  Bank of England is expected to reverse emergency action taken following the Brexit referendum, when it cut rates from 0.5% to 0.25% to avert a recession. While a slump has not materialized, the British economy appears in worse health than most other major countries, with potential to be blown further off course by faltering talks to leave the EU.