International

• Friday, December 14th 2018 - 08:45 UTC

  EU leaders tell Theresa May that Brexit deal is “not open for renegotiation, only clarifications”

  

  European Union leaders have said the Brexit withdrawal agreement is “not open for renegotiation”, despite appeals from Theresa May. She wanted legal assurances on the Irish backstop to help her deal get through Parliament after she delayed a Commons vote in anticipation of defeat.

• Friday, December 14th 2018 - 07:01 UTC

  HMS Montrose enjoys warm welcome in Chile

  

  HMS Montrose joined Chile’s party of the year as the country celebrated the 200th birthday of its Navy. The frigate was invited to join old friends – former British warships HMS Grafton, Sheffield and Marlborough, now serving under the Chilean flag – and make new friends in the port of Valparaiso where a series of high-profile anniversary events were staged over nine days.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 21:19 UTC

  Socialist Pablo Iglesias regrets about Venezuela: “The political and economic situation is disastrous”

  

  The Spanish Socialist leader, Pablo Iglesias, appeared before the Spanish Senate on Thursday over the alleged illegal financing that his political coalition, Podemos, could have received from Venezuela and Iran. In a tense debate with a senator from the Popular Party (PP), Iglesias said that the situation in the South American country “is disastrous” and that he regrets things he has said in the past.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 09:15 UTC

  Huawei dispute: China arrests second Canadian on suspicion of harming state security

  

  Canadian businessman Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, is being investigated on suspicion of harming China’s state security, officials said, days after a former Canadian diplomat was detained in China in an escalating diplomatic row.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 09:04 UTC

  Bolivia, Germany agree to join efforts in extracting lithium from Uyuni

  

  Germany and Bolivia will join forces for the extraction of lithium, as Europe's largest economy moves to secure supplies for battery-powered vehicles, which are believed to be looming over, the German government announced Wednesday.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 07:07 UTC

  Spain's minimum wage will increase by 22% in 2019, announces PM Sanchez

  

  Spain's minimum wage will jump by 22% in 2019 - the largest annual increase in more than 40 years. It means millions of low-paid workers could see a pay rise from €736 ($835; £665) to €900, effective from January. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the increase on Wednesday, declaring “a rich country cannot have poor workers”.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 06:36 UTC

  Pyrrhic victory for Theresa May: 37% of Tories voted against her; Brexit gridlock in parliament remains

  

  Prime Minister Theresa May has won a vote of confidence in her leadership of the Conservative Party by 200 to 117. After securing 63% of the total vote, she is now immune from a leadership challenge for a year. Speaking in Downing Street, she vowed to deliver the Brexit “people voted for” but said she had listened to the concerns of MPs who voted against her.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 06:22 UTC

  Falklands goes ahead with negotiations and contract for second commercial flight

  

  The Executive Council has today Wednesday authorised the Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands Government to complete the necessary negotiations with LATAM Airlines Brazil and to finalise a contract, subject to agreement with MLAs, to establish and operate a new weekly route between Sao Paulo and the Falkland Islands.

• Wednesday, December 12th 2018 - 18:32 UTC

  Money markets bet Theresa May will win the confidence vote

  

  The pound has risen amid speculation that Prime Minister Theresa May will win the vote of confidence in her leadership on Wednesday evening. The currency is trading 1.4% higher against the dollar at $1.2660 and 0.9% higher against the euro at €1.1132.

• Wednesday, December 12th 2018 - 08:41 UTC

  China prepared to cut tariffs on US-made cars to 15%, reports Bloomberg

  

  China has reportedly proposed cutting tariffs on US-made cars to 15%, the same tax levied on car imports from other countries. Bloomberg reported that China's cabinet will review the plans, which would undo the 40% import duty China imposed on US cars this summer.