Politics

Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:57 UTC
UK “regrettably” has to participate in the EU elections, admits Mrs. May deputy

The United Kingdom will have to hold European elections, despite hopes from the government a Brexit deal would be done by then, says the PM's de facto deputy. The vote is due on 23 May, but Theresa May said the UK would not have to take part if MPs agreed with a Brexit plan first.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:56 UTC
US lifts sanctions on Venezuelan general who broke ranks from Maduro's regime

The US has lifted sanctions on a Venezuelan general who broke ranks from the Nicolás Maduro regime, saying it hoped it would push others to follow. Vice-President Mike Pence on Tuesday said the US would “consider sanctions relief for all those who step up”.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:56 UTC
US objections to climate change derail Arctic nations joint statement

US objections to the wording on climate change prevented Arctic nations signing a joint statement at a summit in Finland, delegates said. It is the first time such a statement has been cancelled since the Arctic Council was set up in 1996.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:54 UTC
Brazilian military caution Bolsonaro on the extreme views of the influential “Trotsky of the right”

The growing differences between members of the military and the so-called ideological faction of Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro’s government prompted a reaction from a retired Army High Commander--Eduardo Villas Bôas—who considers the president to be absent in the dispute and wants to limit what he sees as institutional disrespect.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:53 UTC
Trump avoided paying taxes for eight years, claims the NYT

US President Donald Trump's businesses lost a total of more than US$1 billion from 1985 to 1994, according to the New York Times, which said it obtained printouts from Trump's official Internal Revenue Service tax transcripts.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:52 UTC
Hundreds march in Rio to protest education federal funding cuts by Bolsonaro's administration

Hundreds of students and professors protested against public education funding cuts outside a military high school in Brazil where far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was attending a ceremony. Bolsonaro’s conservative government sparked outrage last week when it revealed at least 30% cuts to the annual budgets of federally funded high schools and universities.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:25 UTC
China opening its mutual fund business to a foreign majority stake: JPMorgan could be the first

JPMorgan could become the first foreign company to own a majority stake in its Chinese mutual fund business, after its joint venture partner put a crucial 2% of the business up for sale that analysts expect the Wall Street bank to lap up.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:14 UTC
Extradition hearings for Huawei's owner daughter complicates US/China/Canada dealings

Huawei Technologies' chief financial officer is set to return to a Vancouver courtroom this Wednesday ahead of planned extradition hearings as deteriorating relations with China over her arrest exact a growing toll on Canada.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 09:08 UTC
Asian markets plummet on concern over China/US trade deal; Beijing negotiator expected in Washington

A red wave swept across Asia trading floors on Wednesday as investors grow increasingly concerned that the China-US trade deal, which appeared all by ready to sign, could fall through.
Wednesday, May 8th 2019 - 08:56 UTC
BHP Billiton facing US$ 5 billion claim for damages over a dam collapse in Brazil

Mining giant BHP Billiton is facing a US$5bn claim for damages over a dam collapse in Brazil in 2015. Law firm SPG, which is representing than 200,000 Brazilian claimants, said the company “knew of the risks” at the Samarco mine in Minas Gerais state.