Stories for January 2019

Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:03 UTC
UK and Spain agree to guarantee reciprocal suffrage at municipal level post-Brexit

Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell announced this week that Madrid and London have agreed to guarantee electoral rights in local elections for British residents in Spain and Spanish residents in the UK post-Brexit.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
WHO statement on reports of alleged misconduct

World Health Organization (WHO) is aware of a news story published today about allegations of misconduct in the organization. The allegations are being investigated according to WHO’s established procedures, having been referred to WHO’s Office of Internal Oversight Services by the Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 08:55 UTC
Border wall tit-for-tat: Trump halts Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan by denying military aircraft

President Donald Trump has postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's upcoming trip to Brussels and Afghanistan, asking her to stay to negotiate an end to the partial US government shutdown.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 08:45 UTC
Speaker of UK Parliament John Bercow, next Brexit victim?

Such is the anger with the Speaker of the UK Parliament at senior levels of government, it has been suggested he could be blocked from getting a peerage when he retires. Ministers are furious at what they see as John Bercow's “bias” during Commons debates on Brexit.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 19:30 UTC
Nine killed and dozens injured with car-bomb in Bogotá next to police academy

At least nine people were killed and dozens more injured in a car bombing at a police academy in Colombia's capital, Bogotá on Thursday, recalling the high-profile attacks associated with bloodiest chapters of the country's drug-fueled guerrilla conflict.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 10:10 UTC
Petrobras allowed to sell 90% stake in gas pipeline unit, estimated at US$ 7bn

Brazil’s solicitor general has overturned one injunction that prevented state-controlled oil company Petrobras from proceeding with one of its largest divestitures, the government said in a statement.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 10:05 UTC
Petrobras averaged 2.63 MMboed last year, targets 2.8 MMboed for 2019

Petrobras reports that in 2018, its total production of oil and gas, including natural gas liquids (NGL), was 2.63 MMboed, of which 2.53 MMboed produced in Brazil and 101,000 boed abroad. Petrobras’ own production of oil in Brazil was 2.03 MMbpd.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 09:53 UTC
Brazil plans to eliminate visitor visas for US citizens to promote tourism

Brazil plans to eliminate visitor visas for Americans, the country's tourism minister said on Wednesday, as President Jair Bolsonaro seeks to turn around the lagging tourism sector and engineer cosier relations with the United States.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 09:50 UTC
Brazilian supermodel rejects criticism from agriculture minister

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen on Wednesday rejected critiques by the country's farm minister that questioned her knowledge about Brazil's conservation efforts.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 09:12 UTC
Shutdown: Pelosi asks Trump to postpone State of the Union speech to Congress or deliver it by writing

Democrats have asked President Donald Trump to postpone a speech to Congress, arguing security cannot be guaranteed due to the government shutdown. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to Mr Trump that he should deliver the speech in writing instead unless federal agencies reopen.