Politics

• Tuesday, March 18th 2014 - 06:52 UTC

  China's Yuan trading band doubled to 2%; a step closer so full convertibility

  

  China's Yuan weakened against the dollar on Monday after the central bank doubled the trading band for the currency, which the United States has long insisted is undervalued. The People's Bank of China (PBoC) said Saturday it would allow the Yuan to move up or down two percent daily -- double the previous one percent -- on either side of a mid-point set under the guidance of the bank, which says it polls market makers.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2014 - 06:41 UTC

  Unasur delegation begins dialogue-contacts next week to help with Venezuelan situation

  

  Uruguayan foreign minister Luis Almagro confirmed that next week a delegation from Unasur (Union of South American Nations) will be ready to sponsor dialogue and help de-compress the situation in Venezuela as was agreed at the recent foreign ministers meeting held in Santiago de Chile when the inauguration of president Michelle Bachelet.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2014 - 06:34 UTC

  Russia eyes Crimea’s oil and gas reserves

  

  According to Reuters, Crimea may nationalize oil and gas assets within its borders belonging to Ukraine, and sell them off to Russia. Crimea’s Deputy Prime Minister hinted at the possibility that it would take control of Chornomorneftegaz, a Ukrainian state-owned enterprise, and then “privatize” it by selling it to Gazprom.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2014 - 02:31 UTC

  Official inflation in Argentina during February, 3.4% and 7.1% in two months

  

  Inflation in Argentina during the month of February reached 3.4%, which means that in the first two months of the year the index stands above 7.1%, according to the latest figures released by the country's National Institute of Statistics and Census' (INDEC) Consumer Price Index.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2014 - 02:24 UTC

  Brazil optimistic that Mercosur has reached a joint proposal for trade talks with the EU

  

  Mercosur will present a joint proposal to the European Union for a wide ranging trade agreement between the two blocks later this month, announced Brazil' Minister of Industry Mauro Borges, following a visit to Buenos Aires where he met with Economy minister Axel Kicillof and Industry minister Debora Giorgi.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2014 - 00:13 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez holds two-hour private meeting with the Pope and then flies to France

  

  President Cristina Fernández (with a sprained ankle in a boot) and Pope Francis shared on Monday a lunch which lasted two hours and a half at Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. It's the third time the Argentine head of state and Francis meet since he was elected pontiff one year ago.

• Monday, March 17th 2014 - 15:56 UTC

  FIFA top committee to address Qatar (Cup 2022) labor working conditions

  

  A new report from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) exposes how far Qatar will go to deny workers their rights, ahead of a critical FIFA Executive Committee meeting on Thursday 20th March in Zurich.

• Monday, March 17th 2014 - 15:46 UTC

  PM Cameron suggests more devolution in fiscal matters if Scotland votes NO

  

  The Scottish Parliament could gain more power over tax if voters reject independence, said British Prime Minister. A No vote on September 18 is “not the end of line” for devolution, David Cameron told the Scottish Conservative party conference in Edinburgh.

• Saturday, March 15th 2014 - 08:25 UTC

  Despite inflation Astori argues that cutting government spending is not the solution

  

  It is a mistake to blame government expenditure for the increase of prices, as is the concept that inflation can be defeated by cutting government spending, said Uruguayan Vice-president and economist Danilo Astori, who argued that in many cases these funds are essential to finance public investments and social policies.

• Saturday, March 15th 2014 - 08:13 UTC

  Uruguay combats inflation with price agreements and reducing taxes on public utilities rates

  

  The Uruguayan government finalized on Friday a prices agreement with commerce and trade organizations to help bring down the third highest inflation of the region which is advancing at an almost two-digit pace. The package is to be completed with government fiscal 'sacrifice' such as the elimination of taxes on some public utilities rates.