European officials said Thursday, November 5 they were now striving for a political agreement instead of a new treaty to allow the U.S. and other rich nations to make commitments that are not legally binding. That announcement is said to be “an implicit admission of defeat” as the treaty had been due to be completed in December at a 192-nation conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

There will be 258 Democrats in the House by the time the health vote takes place, but to secure the 218 votes needed to passage – and with prospects dim for Republican converts – Pelosi can afford to lose no more than 40 members of her caucus. The vote is now expected late Saturday or Sunday.

Rolls-Royce and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, are to work jointly with three UK universities in a new £50 million strategic partnership that will develop materials skills and knowledge to support the development of future gas turbines.