Politics

• Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 08:42 UTC

  Brexit has the Conservative party unity under “existential strain”

  

  The Conservative Party has been put under “existential strain” by Brexit and some friendships and relationships will “never be healed”, according to a former cabinet minister. Nicky Morgan, the Tory chairwoman of the Treasury Committee, laid bare the personal toll on MPs divided over the merits of the UK’s departure from the European Union as she insisted she still believes the party can come back together.

• Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 08:37 UTC

  Moody's cuts Italy's credit rating and EC warns over 2019 budget plans

  

  Moody's has cut Italy's credit rating by a notch over concerns about plans for larger deficits and the high public debt load as the country's populist government clashes with Brussels over its budget. The European Commission formally warned Italy late Thursday that its budget plans for 2019 are a serious concern, launching a high-stakes process that could see Rome hit with unprecedented sanctions for breaking commitments to Brussels.

• Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 07:15 UTC

  Bolsonaro, not the best choice for Brazil, say 350 economists in open declaration

  

  More than 350 economists, among them a Nobel Prize winner, have signed a declaration saying Brazil's frontrunner to be president, far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro, is not the best choice for his country.

• Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 07:00 UTC

  Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi was killed at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul

  

  Saudi Arabia’s King Salman removed a key royal adviser and a senior intelligence official as the public prosecutor said an initial probe showed that journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul.

• Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 06:36 UTC

  Gibraltar, not a problem to reach a Brexit agreement, says Spain

  

  Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez both sent positive signals about the progress of Brexit talks relating to Gibraltar, effectively confirming the Rock’s inclusion in any withdrawal and transitional arrangements to soften the process of leaving the EU.

• Friday, October 19th 2018 - 18:15 UTC

  Ecuador, Venezuela sever diplomatic ties due to improper accusations

  

  The government of President Lenin Moreno Thursday expelled Venezuela's ambassador in Quito and the Nicolás Maduro regime hit back by ordering the Ecuadorian chargé d'affairs out of Caracas. Ambassador Carol Delgado was sent back to Venezuela and Ecuador's Elizabeth Mendez was ordered to leave Caracas.

• Friday, October 19th 2018 - 11:20 UTC

  Chile: eighth consecutive increase in price of fuel finally draws Piñera's attention

  

  President Sebastián Piñera Thursday ordered his cabinet to seek ways to stop the trend, following the eighth increase in the price of petrol in as many weeks

• Friday, October 19th 2018 - 10:18 UTC

  Dollar, prices go up in inflation-ridden Argentina

  

  The US dollar rose 22 cents against the Argentine peso and closed at a 1 US$/ AR$37.50 parity on Thursday. It was the second day in a row for an upward trend following seven straight slumps.

• Friday, October 19th 2018 - 09:15 UTC

  Human rights violations and environmental disasters: What leaves the Chinese investment in Latin America

  

  Chinese companies present a pattern of violations of human and environmental rights in Latin America, according to a report revealed by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).

• Friday, October 19th 2018 - 08:40 UTC

  Facebook's “war room” to combat fake news ahead of Brazil and US elections

  

  During the first round of Brazil's presidential election on 7 October, Facebook staff noticed something suspicious on the social network. A story posted to Facebook incorrectly claimed the election was delayed because of protests. The company's data scientists and operations team scrambled to pull down the misinformation before it went viral.