Stories for December 2018

Tuesday, December 11th 2018 - 08:35 UTC
French president yields to weeks of protests and rolls back most reforms

French president Emmanuel Macron has promised a minimum wage rise and tax concessions in response to weeks of violent protests. France has seen four weekends of violent protests against fuel tax rises, living costs and other issues. Speaking in a televised address, Mr. Macron condemned the violence but said the protesters' anger was “deep, and in many ways legitimate”.
Tuesday, December 11th 2018 - 08:29 UTC
Operation to rescue Brexit deal: PM May flies to Holland, Germany and Brussels

Theresa May will meet European leaders and EU officials later for talks aimed at rescuing her Brexit deal. She will hold talks with Dutch PM Mark Rutte and Germany's Angela Merkel after postponing MPs' final vote on the deal. The UK PM has said she needs “further assurances” about the Northern Ireland border plan to get Commons backing.
Tuesday, December 11th 2018 - 08:24 UTC
OAS Mission congratulates Peruvians for the peaceful Sunday vote

The Electoral Experts Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) congratulated Peruvian citizens for a peaceful vote in which they expressed their will in a decisive way. The Mission also congratulated electoral authorities on their ability to organize in a short-term the national referendum on December 9.
Tuesday, December 11th 2018 - 08:19 UTC
Embraer-Boeing deal clears provisional injunction, but now depends on Bolsonaro's administration

A Brazilian federal court has overturned a provisional injunction that blocked a proposed tie-up between plane makers Embraer and Boeing, Embraer said on Monday in a securities filing. Brazil's Embraer announced in July its intention to sell 80% of its commercial aviation business to Chicago-based Boeing for US$ 3.8 billion. Embraer has said the deal is crucial for its survival.
Tuesday, December 11th 2018 - 07:37 UTC
Argentina, UK to co-chair LGBT rights organisation for two years

Argentina and the United Kingdom have been chosen Monday to co-chair the Equal Rights Coalition for two years starting next June, to succeed Chile and Canada at the helm of the first-ever intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBT) people around the world.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 18:30 UTC
Europe Court of Justice rules UK can cancel Brexit without altering terms of her membership

The European Court of Justice has ruled the UK can cancel Brexit without the permission of the other 27 EU members. The ECJ judges ruled this could be done without altering the terms of Britain's membership.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 18:24 UTC
PM May and EU trapped in “Brussels optimism”; Brexit deal debate suspended

Theresa May says she has called off Tuesday's crucial vote on her Brexit deal because it “would be rejected by a significant margin”. She said MPs backed much of the deal she has struck with the EU but there was concern over the Northern Irish backstop.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 17:36 UTC
Brazilian state of Roraima on Venezuelan border under federal administration

Brazilian President Michel Temer's decree mandating the federal government's intervention in the Venezuela-bordering state of Roraima until December 31 was published Monday in the Official Gazette.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 10:21 UTC
Chilean President Piñera pulls Jungle Commando out of Araucania

Chile's President Sebastián Piñera Saturday announced the Carabineros' élite GOPE squad, commonly referred to as “Jungle Commando,” will be withdrawn from the Araucania region, but warned that security in the area will be reinforced nonetheless.
Monday, December 10th 2018 - 09:44 UTC
WHO: road traffic injuries the leading killer of children and young people

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates road traffic deaths continue to rise, with an annual 1.35 million fatalities. The WHO Global status report on road safety 2018 highlights that road traffic injuries are now the leading killer of children and young people aged 5-29 years.