
Brazilian police made public an investigation into corruption involving three senators and three lawmakers that stemmed from a related probe into major meatpacker JBS SA. The police carried out 24 search-and-seizure warrants in the early morning hours, they said in a written statement, as part of an investigation into money laundering and corruption, among other crimes.

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.

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.

The Brazilian central bank on Wednesday held interest rates at an all-time low, as widely expected, and hinted that it will hold off from raising them for longer than expected. The bank’s nine-member monetary policy committee, Copom, kept the benchmark Selic rate at 6.50 percent for a sixth straight meeting.

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.

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.

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.

A study carried out by Harvard University economists Dany Bahar and Douglas Barrios reveals that at least 8.2 million Venezuelan citizens would leave during 2019 their country to escape the economic and political crisis that Venezuela is experiencing.

In Argentina, a movement in support of the accusation of rape that the actress Thelma Fardín presented against the actor and singer Juan Darthes caused a stir and support with the hashtag #MiraComoNosPonemos (Look how we get) on Tuesday through social networks. Darthes carries several complaints about the sexual abuse of several actresses with whom he worked.

The Guayaquil-born Otto Sonnenholzner Sper took office on Tuesday as Vice-president of Ecuador, after being chosen by the National Assembly from a shortlist put forward by President Lenin Moreno.