Politics

Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 11:00 UTC
It's official: US creates the sixth military branch, the Space Force

President Donald Trump signed legislation on Friday to create a full-fledged Pentagon force for combat in outer space - the first new military service in seven decades. Capping an ambitious order Trump issued in June 2018, the US Space Force officially came into being when Trump signed the annual military budget, the US$738 billion National Defense Authorization Act.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 10:53 UTC
Ms O'Connor, new UK ambassador to Uruguay, takes appointment in August 2020

Ms. Faye O’Connor OBE has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Uruguay in succession to Mr. Ian Duddy who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms. O’Connor will take up her appointment in August 2020.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 10:48 UTC
Falklands patrol HMS Clyde decommissioned in Portsmouth before its future life with the Brazilian Navy

A Royal Naval patrol vessel has returned to its home base in Portsmouth for the final time after spending 12 years on patrol around the Falkland Islands. Sailors and crew of the HMS Clyde have taken part in a decommissioning ceremony for the 13-year-old vessel before it is turned back over the BAE Systems for its future life in Brazil.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 10:34 UTC
Trump accepts Pelosi's invitation for the state of the union speech on February 4

US President Donald Trump has accepted the invitation from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to deliver his state of the union speech on Feb 4, the White House said on Friday. The invite for the annual presidential speech to Congress comes at a charged political moment, with Trump freshly impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and facing a trial in a US Senate that is almost certain to acquit him.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 10:31 UTC
Trump will not levy new tariffs on Brazilian steel and aluminum, Bolsonaro says

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday that US President Donald Trump told him in a phone conversation that his administration will not levy new tariffs on Brazilian steel and aluminum as threatened earlier this month.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 10:29 UTC
Boris Johnson on target: “the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson won approval for his Brexit deal in parliament on Friday, the first step towards fulfilling his election pledge to deliver Britain's departure from the European Union by Jan 31 after his landslide victory.
Friday, December 20th 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Boris Johnson: Political status of the Falkland Islands is not going to change

Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his Christmas message to the Falkland Islands points out the second commercial flight to South America as the great achievement of 2019, and assures that his government's support “for your right to determine your own political status is not going to change”
Friday, December 20th 2019 - 09:51 UTC
Bill authorizing mining in Brazilian protected indigenous reserves is ready, said Bolsonaro

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday that a bill authorizing mining on protected indigenous reserves was ready and only needed to be sent to Congress for consideration.
Friday, December 20th 2019 - 09:49 UTC
Brazil mining regulator dismisses a Vale dam is in danger of collapse: “structurally sound”

A dam owned by iron ore company Vale SA that was the subject of an investigative report by a TV program last week is structurally sound and there is no reason for concern, Brazil’s national mining regulator said this week.
Friday, December 20th 2019 - 09:46 UTC
IMF releases loan tranche to embattled Ecuadorean government

The International Monetary Fund on Thursday approved a delayed loan tranche for Ecuador, releasing nearly US$500 million under a three-year aid program. The IMF board gave the go-ahead for a US$4.2 billion loan in March to help support the oil-rich nation's economic reforms, but massive protests led by indigenous groups erupted in October when President Lenin Moreno scrapped fuel subsidies, causing gasoline prices to soar.