Politics

Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:32 UTC
Ex minister of Rousseff accused of receiving millions in bribes from JBS food company

Brazilian Federal Police raided the home of Science and Technology Minister Gilberto Kassab on Wednesday following accusations that he received millions in bribes from the JBS food company between 2010 and 2016.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:21 UTC
Another Brexit referendum “plausible” if deadlock in Parliament persists

Another Brexit referendum will become a “plausible” way forward if there is deadlock in Parliament, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has said. She told ITV's Peston show while she did not personally support another vote, the case for one would grow if MPs could not agree another solution.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:14 UTC
European Union starts implementing preparations for a no-deal Brexit

The European Commission says it has started to implement its preparations for a no-deal Brexit - in case the UK leaves the EU without a plan. It has announced temporary measures to try to reduce the impact but says it cannot counter all the problems it expects.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:09 UTC
In best US tradition, Trump says IS has been defeated and withdraws troops from Syria

The Trump administration says US troops are being withdrawn from Syria, after the president said the Islamic State (IS) group had been “defeated”. The Pentagon said it was transitioning to the “next phase of the campaign” but did not give details.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 08:51 UTC
United States prosecutor suing Facebook for the Cambridge Analytical scandal

Washington DC's top prosecutor is suing Facebook in the first significant US move to punish the firm for its role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 06:56 UTC
Lula has to remain in jail while Justices decide on procedural controversy

Brazil's former president Lula da Silva remained in prison on Wednesday as two Supreme Court judges issued competing orders over whether he should be released while he tries to get his graft conviction overturned.
Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 06:50 UTC
Malvinas veteran reminds Congress that “war was useless, let us not spoil peace”

An Argentine former naval pilot and Malvinas veteran who recently visited the Falkland Islands came out in support of Argentine ambassador in London Carlos Sersale di Cerisiano, who has been strongly criticized and summoned by his country's congress for having referred to Falklands/Malvinas government as the Islands' “top authorities”.
Wednesday, December 19th 2018 - 15:59 UTC
No same-sex marriage for now in Cuba's constitutional reform bill

The writers of Cuba's constitutional reform bill have yielded “to popular demand” and stricken out the paragraph establishing marriage between two people of any sex from the proposed Article 68 and which would have opened the door to same-sex marriage, State Council Secretary Homero Acosta announced.
Wednesday, December 19th 2018 - 14:56 UTC
Trump administration bans bump stocks that can turn rifles into machine guns

The Trump administration has banned the use of bump stocks, devices that let rifles fire like machine guns, after promising to do so earlier this year. The final date to destroy or turn in the devices is 21 March, said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.
Wednesday, December 19th 2018 - 14:30 UTC
Macri urges Mercosur to take action against “Venezuelan dictatorship”

Argentine President Mauricio Macri Tuesday launched an appeal in Montevideo to find solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and called for the “return of democracy” in that country. He delivered that speech during the Mercosur summit where he is to take up the bloc's rotating presidency from host Tabaré Vázquez.