Politics

Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:03 UTC
US tightening the noose: Venezuelan oil proceeds will be withheld from Maduro's government

The US has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil firm PDVSA and urged the country's military to accept a peaceful transfer of power. National Security Adviser John Bolton said President Nicolás Maduro and his allies could “no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people”. Efforts by the opposition to unseat Mr Maduro have increased in recent days.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:01 UTC
Bolsonaro recovering after a nine-hour operation; General Hamilton Mourao acting president

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has undergone surgery to remove a colostomy bag he had fitted after he was stabbed in the stomach on the campaign trail in September. He is expected to be on strict bed rest for two days after the operation, a presidential spokesman said.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:01 UTC
Mrs. May willing to support amendments but insists in no delay for the Brexit withdrawal date

The United Kingdom government will support a backbench amendment to the Brexit deal that calls for the planned Irish backstop to be replaced by “alternative arrangements”. Tory MPs will be told to vote for Sir Graham Brady's proposal when the Commons votes on a series of amendments to Theresa May's plan on Tuesday.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
EU mocks UK parliament: withdrawal agreement debate was “uninhibited by any knowledge” of what it actually contained

There is a high risk of the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal by accident, the EU's deputy chief negotiator Sabine Weyand has said. She added there was “full ownership of what was agreed” in the EU, but “no ownership” of it in the UK Parliament. And it was a challenge to see how a majority for any deal could be built among MPs, she added.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 08:43 UTC
Brazilian government considering management overhaul at miner Vale SA

Brazil’s government weighed pushing for a management overhaul at miner Vale SA on Monday as grief over hundreds feared killed by a dam burst turned into anger, with prosecutors, politicians and victims’ families calling for punishment. By Monday, firefighters in the state of Minas Gerais had confirmed 65 people killed by Friday’s disaster, in which a burst tailings dam sent a torrent of sludge into the miner’s offices and the town of Brumadinho.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 08:36 UTC
Vale's market value plunges US$ 16,4bn on Monday, following on the dam burst

Brazilian miner Vale SA’s shares plunged on Monday, wiping out nearly 62 billion reais (US$ 16.4 billion) in market value, after a tailing dam collapse on Friday killed at least 65 people and left 292 missing with slim hopes for recovery. Vale shares were down 21.5% in Sao Paulo morning trading, at 44.70 reais. The company suspended dividend payments late on Sunday.
Monday, January 28th 2019 - 09:32 UTC
Brazilian prosecutors looking into expanding the case against mining companies

The Brazilian prosecutor running talks to settle a lawsuit over a 2015 tailings dam rupture at the Samarco mine says the deadly dam burst at the mine run by Vale in Brumadinho could scramble those sensitive negotiations.
Monday, January 28th 2019 - 09:32 UTC
“One of the best cruise seasons' for Ushuaia”, boasts governor Bertone

“This is one of the best cruise seasons we've had in years”, said Tierra del Fuego governor Rosana Bertone underlining that tourism is an industry which creates jobs and helps the province's economy. Ms Bertone made the statement during a visit to the port of Ushuaia where she attended the departure of the “Celebrity Eclipse” and welcomed the French flagged “Le Soleil”
Monday, January 28th 2019 - 09:31 UTC
UK Parliamentarians remain firm on Gibraltar

Gibraltar has intensified its contact on Brexit with senior United Kingdom parliamentarians both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords in order to put across the position of Gibraltar. The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia took advantage of their visit to London last week to meet opinion-formers on the Remain and the Leave sides of the argument.
Monday, January 28th 2019 - 09:21 UTC
Maduro rejects elections but gives US diplomats 30 days to leave; Guaidó calls for protests on Wednesday and Saturday

The US has warned Venezuela that any threats against American diplomats or opposition leader Juan Guaidó will be met with “a significant response”. National Security Adviser John Bolton said any such “intimidation” would be “a grave assault on the rule of law”.