Stories for December 8th 2018

Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 16:03 UTC
Feminists oppose renaming Chile's main airport after Pablo Neruda

As the project to rename Santiago's international airport is back under the spotlight, feminist groups have brought the attention to the fact that 1971 Literature Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda is not worthy of that honour.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:35 UTC
Lula tells BBC why he was jailed to prevent him from winning the presidential election

Brazil's former president, Lula da Silva, says he was jailed to prevent him from winning the 2018 presidential election which saw far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected. In an exclusive interview with the BBC via letters from his cell, Lula said Judge Sergio Moro “did politics and not justice” when he sentenced him.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:34 UTC
Bolsonaro names evangelical pastor to head a new Women, Family ministry

Brazil's right-wing President-elect Jair Bolsonaro named a pro-life evangelical pastor to head a new ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights that will also take over the agency looking after the country's 850,000 indigenous people. Damares Alves, a lawyer, preacher and congressional aide, is a staunch opponent of legalizing abortion, which is allowed only in cases of rape, anencephaly or when the mother's life is in danger.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:30 UTC
Brazil environment regulator denies license to drill near mouth of the Amazon

Brazil's environmental regulator on Friday denied French oil giant Total a license to drill for crude in five blocks near the mouth of the Amazon river. Regulatory agency Ibama said the license was denied “due to a set of technical problems” identified during the application process.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:28 UTC
Huawei's Meng arrest becoming a major diplomatic conflict

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s chief financial officer faces U.S. accusations that she covered up her company’s links to a firm that tried to sell equipment to Iran despite sanctions, a Canadian prosecutor said on Friday, arguing against giving her bail while she awaits extradition.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:26 UTC
Gibraltar urges a “stop Brexit completely” if PM May's Brexit deal stumbles

The Gibraltar Government would urge the UK to “stop Brexit completely” if MPs vote against Prime Minister Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement next week, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said. Speaking to GBC after returning to Gibraltar from London, Picardo highlighted two important developments this week which he said had opened up new possibilities as the UK Parliament grapples with the Brexit divorce deal this week.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:22 UTC
The idea of a “Norway plus” plan is floated ahead of Tuesday's Brexit vote

The UK should pursue the so-called “Norway plus” option - if Theresa May's Brexit plan is rejected by MPs on Tuesday, according to Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd. In an interview with The Times, Ms Rudd said she still supported the PM's plan - but added a variation of Norway's set-up was the best alternative.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:11 UTC
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary wins ITUC’s World’s Worst Boss Poll

Michael O’Leary was announced as the winner of the world’s worst boss at the 4th International Trade Union Confederation World Congress in Copenhagen. The ITUC representing 207 million workers, is meeting in Copenhagen with more than 1200 delegates from 132 countries.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:07 UTC
Twelve people, including six hostages killed in bank robbery shootout in Brazil

Twelve people including 6 hostages were killed on Friday in a shootout between police and bank robbers attempting to blow up ATMs at 2 banks in a small town in northeastern Brazil, authorities said.
Saturday, December 8th 2018 - 09:04 UTC
South Georgia wildlife on five National Geographic “Resurrection Island” episodes

National Geographic has produced a series of 5 short films about South Georgia wildlife, according to South Georgia's Newsletter.