Stories for June 24th 2016

Friday, June 24th 2016 - 22:10 UTC
Oi telecommunications US$ 19bn bankruptcy, the largest in Brazil's history

Brazilian telecoms giant Oi has filed the largest bankruptcy request in the country’s history, after failing to reach an agreement with creditors.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 20:51 UTC
Scotland's Sturgeon admits second independence referendum “highly likely”

Scotland's first minister has said a second independence referendum is “highly likely” after the UK voted to leave the EU. Nicola Sturgeon said it was “democratically unacceptable” that Scotland faced the prospect of being taken out of the EU against its will.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 19:15 UTC
Spanish caretaker minister calls for Gibraltar joint sovereignty, following Brexit

The Spanish government has called for joint sovereignty over Gibraltar in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU. The British overseas territory of 30,000 voted overwhelmingly for remain, with 95.9% opting to stay in the union.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 18:43 UTC
Falklands will continue to engage with UK and negotiate to retain trade access benefits

The Falkland Islands Government said on Friday it will be working with the public and private sector to further investigate the impact of Brexit on the Islands.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 18:26 UTC
Boris Johnson softens Brexit speech: “We are part of Europe; we're not pulling up a drawbridge”

Boris Johnson has insisted the UK is not “turning its back” on Europe after its decision to vote to leave the EU. The decision would not make the UK any less tolerant nor outward looking and would not reduce opportunities for young people, the ex-London mayor said.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 12:02 UTC
Ex-top minister of Lula and Rousseff arrested; Senator Gleisi Hoffmann house raided

A top ex-minister of Brazil's suspended president Dilma Rousseff became the latest official to get arrested in a sprawling corruption probe on Thursday, authorities said. Police also searched the headquarters of Rousseff's Workers Party in Sao Paulo in one of a series of raids across five states in the country.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 09:03 UTC
Brazil Lower House passes bill allowing foreigners 100% stake of national carriers

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved this week an executive order allowing foreign investors 100% ownership of Brazilian airlines, compared to the current 20% limit, although the implementation depends on approval from the Senate.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 08:58 UTC
Two presidents at opening of Rio Olympics in August

Dilma Rousseff, Brazil's suspended president, will be invited to the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics on August 5, the organizing committee said Thursday. Rousseff has been replaced by vice-president Michel Temer pending her impeachment trial over allegations of fiddling government accounts.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 08:38 UTC
Brazilian leading contractor, in plea bargain, expected to involve Rousseff directly in campaign illegal funding

Marcelo Odebrecht, the former chief executive of Latin America’s largest construction company, will admit in a plea bargain testimony that he personally oversaw illegal campaign donations for suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff in the 2010 and 2014 elections, Folha de São Paulo reported.
Friday, June 24th 2016 - 08:28 UTC
Colombia-FARC, “a historic event and exemplary implementation of peace”

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon attended in Cuba the signing of a bilateral ceasefire agreement and laying down of weapons between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) and described the historic event as an exemplary implementation of peace.