Politics

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 22:50 UTC

  Mexican government struck by Odebrecht's bribe money

  

  Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto faces a tough choice on whether to pursue a graft probe involving a prominent ally and Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 22:41 UTC

  Four Venezuelan opposition elected governors agree to be sworn by the Constituent Assembly

  

  Four newly-elected opposition governors in Venezuela have agreed to be sworn in by the constituent assembly, defying their coalition's official position. The Roundtable for Democracy (MUD) had said none of its candidates would kneel before the pro-government assembly, which it regards as illegitimate.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 07:37 UTC

  Brazil's Temer admits the pensions' reform could be delayed until next year

  

  Brazil's President Michel Temer admits for the first time that the crucial pension reform legislation could not be passed by Congress this year. In an interview with Poder360 news website, Temer said the government had to again consult lawmakers in the government coalition, many of whom have already said they are doubtful the legislation will pass this year.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 07:05 UTC

  Catalonia representatives anticipate civil disobedience against Madrid

  

  Representatives of the government and parliament in Catalonia have warned that civil disobedience may be possible if Madrid actually triggered the constitutional clause stopping the autonomous rights of the region.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 06:58 UTC

  Venezuela delaying debt payments: foreign reserves down to US$ 9.9 billion

  

  One week before Venezuela faces a critical debt payment, the distressed country is already late on a series of smaller bills. The nation's state-owned oil giant, Petroleos de Venezuela, SA, has two major bond payments totaling about US$2 billion coming due in the next two weeks.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 06:34 UTC

  Macri anticipates sweeping tax, education and labor reforms

  

  President Mauricio Macri said on Monday he will seek more sweeping reforms for Argentina after his governing coalition scored a resounding victory in congressional elections. Macri's center-right coalition remains a minority in both houses of Congress.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 06:06 UTC

  Theresa May dismisses a call for second Brexit referendum: “out of the question”

  

  Prime Minister Theresa May has dismissed a call for a second referendum as “out of the question”, affirming that Britain will be leaving the EU. Mrs May was asked whether people should have the chance to vote again by Labour’s Paul Flynn, who said “second thoughts” were superior.

• Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 07:55 UTC

  Two of Italy's richest regions vote for more autonomy

  

  Two of Italy's richest northern regions have voted for more autonomy, according to their leaders. More than 90% of voters in Lombardy, home to Italy's financial capital Milan, and the Veneto region around Venice, voted yes in the non-binding referendum, their presidents claimed.

• Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 07:51 UTC

  Brexit countdown: PM May faces Parliament and Davis travels to Paris

  

  UK Brexit Secretary David Davis will travel to Paris on Monday for talks days after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested Britain would need to up its divorce payment offer to unlock trade negotiations. Davis will have dinner with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in the UK’s latest attempt to jump-start withdrawal talks with the European Union.

• Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 07:45 UTC

  UK's biggest business lobbies calling for urgent Brexit transition deal

  

  Britain's five biggest business lobby groups are calling for an urgent Brexit transition deal, or they warn the UK risks losing jobs and investment. In a joint letter being sent to Brexit Secretary David Davis, the groups, including the Institute of Directors and CBI, will say time is running out.