IN BRIEF (Page 8)

United Kingdom

MPs poised for pivotal vote on Brexit deal

MPs in the United Kingdom were set for a momentous third vote on Friday on British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, which could end a months-long political crisis or risk Britain crashing out of the European Union in two weeks. The House of Commons has twice rejected May's withdrawal agreement, both times by large margins, but has been unable to agree any alternative - and time is running out. The pivotal vote takes place on the day Britain was supposed to leave the EU, until May asked the bloc's leaders last week for a little more time. In a last-ditch bid to garner the support of discontented Conservative colleagues, she dramatically promised Wednesday to resign if the deal passed.

United States

Trump threatens to shut Mexico border

US President Donald Trump on Thursday again threatened to seal the US-Mexican border, claiming on social media that the country's southern neighbor is allowing illegal immigrants to cross unhindered. "May close the southern border!" the president wrote on Twitter. "Mexico is doing nothing to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants to our country. They are all talk and no action," he said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rejected Trump's criticism, telling journalists: "We are doing something on this issue. We are going to help in every way we can. We don't in any way want a confrontation with the United States."

Venezuela

Guaido disqualified from public office

Opposition leader Juan Guaido will be barred from holding public office for 15 years following an investigation which showed irregularities in his financial records, Venezuela's Comptroller General Elvis Amoroso said on Thursday. "Disqualify from holding any public office the citizen Juan Gerardo Antonio Guaido Marquez," Amoroso said, following the investigation into his declaration of assets. The investigation began in February, when the authorities started an asset audit on the accounts of the opposition leader. The announcement prompted a withering response from Washington, where US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino described the move as "ridiculous".

Mozambique

Cholera cases jump to 139 after outbreak

Officials in Mozambique said the number of cholera cases among survivors of a devastating cyclone has jumped to 139, Portuguese news agency Lusa cited health official Ussein Isse as saying in a report on Thursday. The cholera outbreak had been declared a day earlier with just five confirmed cases. Cholera is spread by contaminated food and water, causes acute diarrhea and can kill within hours if not treated with oral rehydration solution or intravenous fluids in severe cases.

AFP - AP - Xinhua

(China Daily 03/30/2019 page8)