Politics

• Saturday, September 16th 2017 - 07:39 UTC

  UK at highest alert following the bomb in the Tube which caused 29 injured

  

  The United Kingdom terror threat has been increased to its highest level as police continue the hunt for the person behind the Friday underground bombing in south-west London. The prime minister said the threat was now critical, meaning an attack is expected imminently, after a device was detonated at Parsons Green station.

• Saturday, September 16th 2017 - 07:25 UTC

  Theresa May scolds president Trump on London terror attack tweets

  

  British Prime Minister Theresa May has rebuked US President Donald Trump for suggesting suspects in Friday's London train blast were known to police. “I never think it's helpful for anybody to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation,” she said.

• Friday, September 15th 2017 - 07:38 UTC

  Venezuela plans to abandon the dollar; greenback currently sells for 22.400 Bolivar

  

  Venezuela temporarily suspended the sale of U.S. dollars through its Dicom auction system, following an announcement last week that it was moving away from the greenback in response to U.S. sanctions. The United States in August prohibited dealings in new debt from Venezuela and state oil company PDVSA in response to the creation of a new legislative super-body that critics call the consolidation of a dictatorship.

• Friday, September 15th 2017 - 07:12 UTC

  Brazil's Temer charged with obstruction of justice and racketeering

  

  Brazilian President Michel Temer was charged with obstruction of justice and racketeering on Thursday, according to a statement posted on the prosecutor general's office website, threatening to delay the government's economic reform agenda in Congress.

• Friday, September 15th 2017 - 07:00 UTC

  Falklands' Governor Phillips: “You decide how you wish to be governed, now and in the future”

  

  The new Governor of the Falkland Islands emphasized that he was in the Islands to work with, “the democratically elected representatives of the people”, and it was, “entirely proper that you (Falkland Islanders) decide how you wish to be governed, now and in the future.”

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 20:49 UTC

  Brazilian congress advances political reform to streamline parties; 28 have elected members

  

  Brazil's lower house of Congress has given initial approval to a bill to reduce the huge array of political parties that have made it hard to govern the country and contributed to corruption. The chamber voted 384-16 for the establishment of a minimum national vote threshold that parties must reach to get public funding and free radio and television time for their election campaigns. The requirement would be 1.5% of votes in 2018, rising to 3% in 2030.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 18:53 UTC

  Irish beef farmers warn that an EU/Mercosur deal is a “completely unacceptable”

  

  Pushing the European Union Mercosur deal is a “completely unacceptable”, according to Meat Industry Ireland’s (MII) director Cormac Healy. In a statement, Healy said that any progression and completion of the Mercosur trade deal will have negative effects on the EU beef market.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 18:09 UTC

  Major speech on Brexit from Theresa May in Florence on 22nd September

  

  Theresa May will travel to Florence to make a speech on Brexit in a move likely to be seen as a bid to break the deadlock in negotiations. The prime minister will give the speech on 22 September, days before Brexit negotiations resume in Brussels.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 17:52 UTC

  Extra funding (£1bn) promised to Northern Ireland needs Parliament approval

  

  Parliament will need to approve the provision of £1bn of extra funding for Northern Ireland, according to lawyers acting for the government. The money was negotiated by the DUP in June as part of its confidence and supply deal with the Conservatives.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 17:44 UTC

  EU Withdrawal Bill faces 157 amendments, including from the Tories

  

  British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing a titanic battle over her flagship Brexit bill, after scores of amendments were tabled within hours of it passing its first parliamentary hurdle. A total of 157 amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, covering 59 pages, were published, including many from senior Conservative Europhiles.