Politics

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 10:50 UTC

  Brazil postpones until February 19 vote on bill to reform pensions system

  

  The lower house of Brazil’s Congress will delay a vote on a bill trimming social security benefits until Feb. 19, Speaker Rodrigo Maia said on Thursday, pushing a decision on the cornerstone of President Michel Temer’s fiscal reforms into an election year.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 10:45 UTC

  Internet neutrality repealed; legal challenges from consumer advocates announced

  

  The US Federal Communications Commission has voted to repeal sweeping 2015 net neutrality rules, in a move that gives internet service providers a free hand to slow or block websites and apps as they see fit, or charge more for faster speeds. The approval of FCC chairman Ajit Pai's proposal marked a victory for internet service providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon Communications and could recast the digital landscape.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 08:25 UTC

  Volkswagen reveals its role during Brazilian military dictatorship: no apologies planned

  

  Volkswagen said on Thursday that a historian commissioned by the carmaker found that some of the security staff at Volkswagen do Brasil had cooperated with the country’s former military regime.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 07:51 UTC

  Violent protests in Buenos Aires as Congress attempted to discuss a pensions reform plan

  

  A trade union-organized march in Buenos Aires descended into violence Thursday, with thousands of protesters clashing with police as they demanded lawmakers reject a controversial pension reform plan. Riot police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators, who threw stones and burned barricades made of rubbish outside the doors of Argentina's congress.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 07:35 UTC

  Venezuelan opposition receives European Union prize for human rights

  

  Venezuela’s opposition received a European Union prize for human rights and urged the world to keep a close eye on an upcoming presidential election where it aspires to end two decades of socialist rule in the OPEC nation. Foes of President Nicolas Maduro failed to dislodge him during months of street protests this year that turned violent killing more than 125 people, and have been dismayed to see him consolidate his power in recent months.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 07:01 UTC

  Argentina prepares to fight Zica with sterile mosquitoes by radiation

  

  After its success in controlling a devastating fruit fly with nuclear technology, Argentina is gearing up to fight a new enemy: mosquitoes that transmit Zika, in addition to dengue and chikungunya. The method applied in both cases is the sterile insect technique, SIT, an insect birth control method that uses irradiation to sterilize and release insects to suppress pest populations.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 01:55 UTC

  Brazil will join the UN peace force in Central Africa Republic with 750 troops

  

  Brazil will join the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, Minusca, the United Nations has announced. This is an important decision since Brasilia looks to maintain a high profile in UN peace operations and show its increased interest in Africa.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 01:40 UTC

  Brazilian police raids offices and homes of two members of Congress

  

  Brazilian police raided the offices and homes of two members of Congress on Wednesday in the country’s latest corruption probe as the government makes a last-ditch effort to vote on an overhaul of the national pension system.

• Thursday, December 14th 2017 - 17:39 UTC

  EU warns UK there is no “backtracking” on the divorce deal reached by PM May in Brussels

  

  Britain and the EU face a “furious race against time” to agree a transition deal and future trade relations within the next 10 months, European Council president Donald Tusk has said. In a letter to the leaders of the 27 remaining EU states ahead of a crucial summit on December 14-15, Mr Tusk urged them to show continued “unity” as Brexit negotiations enter their second phase.

• Thursday, December 14th 2017 - 11:45 UTC

  UK government defeated in Brexit key vote; ministers call it a “minor setback”

  

  The British government has been narrowly defeated in a key vote on its Brexit bill after a rebellion by 11 Tory MPs. In a blow to Prime Minister Theresa May, MPs voted to give Parliament a legal guarantee of a vote on the final Brexit deal struck with Brussels.