Politics

Monday, November 13th 2017 - 09:23 UTC
EU working on a plan for the possible collapse of Brexit negotiations

The European Union's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, says he is planning for the possible collapse of Brexit negotiations with the UK. Barnier was talking to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche days after giving the UK a two-week deadline to clarify key issues.
Monday, November 13th 2017 - 09:14 UTC
Theresa May hosts “business summit” with EU/UK organizations

European business leaders will meet UK Prime Minister Theresa May later on Monday to voice concerns about the future of UK-EU trade. Experts from groups including the CBI and Business-Europe will stress the need for a transitional deal that preserves the status quo after Brexit.
Monday, November 13th 2017 - 08:43 UTC
EU and Mercosur “very close” to reaching an accord, says top European official

The European Union and Mercosur are close to concluding a free trade accord after decades of fitful talks, an EU official said. “We’re that close to having a new association and trade agreement between EU and Mercosur,” European Commissioner for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Jyrki Katainen said, holding his index finger and thumb just slightly apart.
Monday, November 13th 2017 - 08:30 UTC
IMF mission praises Macri's reforms but warns on inflation and budget deficit

An IMF visiting team in Buenos Aires concluded its annual review of Argentina's economy and praised the efforts of President Mauricio Macri's nearly two-year-old government to transform the economy saying it has yielded “significant” gains, but also warned that risks remain.
Monday, November 13th 2017 - 07:17 UTC
Venezuela summons bond holders to a creditors' meeting in Caracas

Venezuela's foreign debt renegotiation committee will meet with creditors at 2 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Monday at the government's “White Palace” in downtown Caracas, the finance minister said on Saturday.
Monday, November 13th 2017 - 07:06 UTC
Falklands demining operations at Port Harriet Farm, Mt Longdon and Goose Green

DYNASAFE Bactec recently returned to the Falkland Islands to continue demining operations, namely the completion of Phase 5a by March 18. “The break of around 10 weeks has allowed us all to recharge our batteries to finish these remaining tasks,” said Project Manager Julius Unsung.
Monday, November 13th 2017 - 06:44 UTC
Rajoy campaigns in Catalonia and calls on the silent majority to convert voice in vote

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has said regional elections next month in Catalonia will help end “separatist havoc” in the northeastern region. Rajoy addressed a campaign event on Sunday on his first visit since imposing direct rule on the region a fortnight ago.
Saturday, November 11th 2017 - 09:15 UTC
The Great October Revolution

By Gwynne Dyer - China Mieville, a novelist I much admire, has published a history of the October Revolution to mark its hundredth anniversary (which is actually on 7 November, since the Russians were still using the Julian calendar in 1917). It had an unusual effect on me. It made me question whether I was right about the utter futility of that revolution.
Saturday, November 11th 2017 - 09:07 UTC
Fed member anticipates rates likely to rise next month and three times in 2018

United States interest rates are likely to rise again next month and a further three times next year, one of the Federal Reserve's rate-setters has said. John Williams, who sits on the lliams, advanced a rate rise in December “makes sense, at least based on the information I have today”.
Saturday, November 11th 2017 - 08:55 UTC
YPF will relocate investment from natural gas to crude oil, because of changes in subsidies policy

Argentina's state-run oil company YPF is “disappointed” by cuts to the government's natural gas production subsidies and will re-allocate investment toward crude oil production.