Politics

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 09:37 UTC

  Weakened Theresa May suffers three defeats in Commons

  

  Theresa May has suffered three Brexit defeats in the Commons as she set out to sell her EU deal to skeptical MPs. Ministers have agreed to publish the government's full legal advice on the deal after MPs found them in contempt of Parliament for issuing a summary. And MPs backed calls for the Commons to have a direct say in what happens if the PM's deal is rejected next Tuesday.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 09:33 UTC

  China confident in implementing trade commitments to US “as soon as possible”

  

  Chinese officials have said they are “confident in implementing” trade commitments made to the US “as soon as possible”, without giving details. An ongoing trade war has seen both countries impose duties on billions of dollars of one another's goods.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 09:24 UTC

  Ecuadorean vice president resigns following allegations of illegal funding

  

  Ecuador's Vice President Maria Vicuna announced her resignation on Tuesday, one day after President Lenin Moreno relieved her of duties amid an investigation into payments she received as a legislator years ago.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 09:20 UTC

  Bolsonaro's chief of staff investigated over allegations of illegal campaign funding

  

  Brazil's Supreme Court said on Tuesday it had authorized a federal investigation into allegations that the incoming chief of staff for far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro had taken illegal campaign donations.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 09:17 UTC

  Norway pays Brazil US$ 70m for deforestation reduction in the Amazon in 2017

  

  Norway will pay Brazil US$ 70 million for reducing deforestation in the Amazon in 2017 but is concerned over a more recent surge in the destruction of the world's largest tropical rainforest, according to a Norwegian government statement.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 09:12 UTC

  Bolsonaro begins political contacts to address pensions scheme with piecemeal reforms

  

  Right-wing President-elect Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he plans to tackle the overhaul of Brazil's fiscally burdensome pension system with piecemeal reforms that can pass Congress, starting with an increase in the minimum age of retirement. He said reforms should start with the public social security system and advance gradually to make sure they pass Congress.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 09:06 UTC

  Madrid bans old petrol and diesel vehicles to combat pollution

  

  Madrid has activated an anti-pollution order that significantly restricts private vehicles in the city center, including a total ban on the most polluting cars.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 08:49 UTC

  Brazilian Supreme Court freezes Lula's latest appeal to be freed from prison

  

  Brazil’s Supreme Court delayed indefinitely a decision on whether former president Lula da Silva should be freed from prison, where he is serving a 12-term for corruption. One of the five justices called for the postponement to give more time to study the case after two of his colleagues decided against a release.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2018 - 08:45 UTC

  Anniversary ceremony of the 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands

  

  Falkland Islands will commemorate the 8th December 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands with a talk on Wednesday and a full program next Saturday. This Wednesday at the Historic Dockyard Museum, David Bailey will be giving a talk on the Battle of Colonel, and of the Falkland Islands.

• Tuesday, December 4th 2018 - 21:36 UTC

  Sino-Panamanian relations off to a strong start, says Xi Jinping

  

  Chinese President Xi Jinping Monday explained relations between his country and Panama have ”gotten off to a strong start in just a year-and-a-half” after the establishment of diplomatic ties in June 2017.