Turkey Elections 2015: Security Is Key Issue after Weeks of Violence

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Turkish voters are going to the polls in parliamentary elections for the second time in five months. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party failed to retain its majority in June’s poll. Attempts to form a coalition government since then have proved unsuccessful. Security is the key issue in the election after weeks of violence involving… Continue reading Turkey Elections 2015: Security Is Key Issue after Weeks of Violence

Eurozone Consumer Prices Remain Flat in October 2015

The eurozone inflation returned to zero in October 2015 from (-0.1%) in the previous month. According to Eurostat estimates, price growth in food, alcohol and tobacco increased slightly, while energy prices were still considerably lower than last year. The EU statistics agency also estimated the unemployment rate in the 19 countries that use the euro… Continue reading Eurozone Consumer Prices Remain Flat in October 2015

Hillary Clinton Rally Interrupted by Black Lives Matter Activists

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A Hillary Clinton campaing rally at Clark Atlanta University has been interrupted by Black Lives Matter activists as she began a speech about reforming the criminal justice system. The Democratic presidential contender spoke over the shouting, saying if elected she would carry on the work on President Barack Obama. The group of 10 Black Lives… Continue reading Hillary Clinton Rally Interrupted by Black Lives Matter Activists

Tanzania Elections 2015: John Pombe Magufuli Wins Presidency

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John Pombe Magufuli has won Tanzania’s presidential election with 58% of the vote, the electoral commission says. His main rival, opposition Ukawa coalition candidate Edward Lowassa has rejected the official results that gave him 40% of the ballots cast. Edward Lowassa earlier claimed he had won with 62% of the vote. The elections on October… Continue reading Tanzania Elections 2015: John Pombe Magufuli Wins Presidency

US Economy Slows in Q3 2015

US economic growth slowed sharply in Q3 of 2015. According to the Department of Commerce, the US gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annualized pace of 1.5% in Q3 of 2015, down from a rate of 3.9% in Q2. The slowdown was partly due to companies running down stockpiles of goods in their warehouses.… Continue reading US Economy Slows in Q3 2015

Paul Ryan Elected as New Speaker of House of Representatives

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Paul Ryan has been elected as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. Hesitant to run at first, the Republican from Wisconsin eventually gained support of the majority of Republicans in Congress to succeed John Boehner of Ohio for the job. Paul Ryan, 45, was Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate in the… Continue reading Paul Ryan Elected as New Speaker of House of Representatives

Bidhya Devi Bhandari Becomes Nepal’s First Female President

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Women’s rights campaigner Bidhya Devi Bhandari has become Nepal’s first female president. Nepal’s parliament has elected Bidhya Devi Bhandari in a move hailed as a milestone. Bidhya Devi Bhandari, 54, is the second person to hold the mainly ceremonial role. She is currently the vice-chair of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist).… Continue reading Bidhya Devi Bhandari Becomes Nepal’s First Female President

Republican Debate: Donald Trump and Ben Carson under Attack

Republican frontrunners Donald Trump and Ben Carson, with no political experience, were under attack from the start of the third GOP presidential debate in Colorado. Ohio Governor John Kasich condemned their “fantasy tax plans” and added: “We can’t elect someone who doesn’t know how to do the job.” Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who has… Continue reading Republican Debate: Donald Trump and Ben Carson under Attack

Ben Carson Overtakes Donald Trump in New Poll

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Ben Carson has knocked Donald Trump off top spot in the Republican presidential campaign. The retired neurosurgeon takes a narrow lead in a New York Times/CBS News poll, ousting Donald Trump who has led the pack for nearly four months. The news comes on the eve of the third TV debate for Republican contenders. The… Continue reading Ben Carson Overtakes Donald Trump in New Poll

Ivory Coast Elections 2015: Alassane Ouattara Wins Second Term with 84% of Vote

Alassane Ouattara has won a second five-year term as Ivory Coast’s president with nearly 84% of the vote, electoral commission officials say. He won a total of 2,118,229 votes, or 83.66% of votes cast, the commission said. Turnout was 54.63%. Several opposition candidates pulled out of the campaign, complaining that it was not free and… Continue reading Ivory Coast Elections 2015: Alassane Ouattara Wins Second Term with 84% of Vote

Donald Trump Reveals He Started out with a “Small Loan” of $1M from His Father

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Donald Trump has revealed he got his start in business with a “small loan” of $1 million  from his father. Speaking at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, voters asked the tycoon to show some humility and common ground with average Americans. The Republican presidential candidate said he “often drives himself” and recently ate… Continue reading Donald Trump Reveals He Started out with a “Small Loan” of $1M from His Father

Jimmy Morales Wins Guatemala’s Presidential Election

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Jimmy Morales has been elected as Guatemala’s president after winning the runoff vote in the country’s presidential election. The former comedian has no experience in government. Jimmy Morales polled 72% against former Guatemala first lady Sandra Torres, who is seen by many as part of the country’s unpopular political elite. Sandra Torres admitted defeat before… Continue reading Jimmy Morales Wins Guatemala’s Presidential Election

Poland Elections 2015: Law and Justice Party Secures Decisive Win

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Poland’s Law and Justice party has secured a decisive win in the country’s parliamentary elections. According to exit polls, the conservative opposition party has enough seats to govern alone, with an anticipated 39% of the vote. Law and Justice’s eurosceptic leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has claimed victory, and the outgoing PM Ewa Kopacz of the centrist… Continue reading Poland Elections 2015: Law and Justice Party Secures Decisive Win

Argentina Elections 2015: Daniel Scioli Leads Vote but May Face Runoff

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Daniel Scioli is leading exit polls in Argentina’s election, but it is not clear if the vote will go into a runoff. The center-left candidate was handpicked by two-term President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. The head of the campaign led by Daniel Scioli’s main challenger, center-right… Continue reading Argentina Elections 2015: Daniel Scioli Leads Vote but May Face Runoff

Ivory Coast Elections 2015: President Alassane Ouattara Running for Second Term

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Ivory Coast is holding the first presidential election since the civil war ended in 2011. The bitterly contested presidential election has been marred by prominent opposition candidates pulling out, citing widespread irregularities. Ivory Coast’s incumbent President Alassane Ouattara is running for a second term in the world’s largest cocoa producer. Some 3,000 people were killed… Continue reading Ivory Coast Elections 2015: President Alassane Ouattara Running for Second Term

Tanzania Elections 2015: Ruling CCM Party Faces Challenge from Ukawa Coalition

Tanzanians are expected to polls in the country’s most tightly contested general elections, as a new opposition coalition tries to end the governing party’s 54-year grip on power. There has been a high turnout at voting stations, reports say. Opinion polls have put the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party ahead, but the result is… Continue reading Tanzania Elections 2015: Ruling CCM Party Faces Challenge from Ukawa Coalition

Congo-Brazzaville Referendum to Decide on Denis Sassou Nguesso Third Term

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Voters in Congo-Brazzaville are expected to polls in a referendum on constitutional changes that would allow President Denis Sassou Nguesso to stand for a third term. Opposition leaders have called for a boycott after a number of protesters died in clashes with security forces. Under the country’s current constitution, Denis Sassou Nguesso cannot seek re-election… Continue reading Congo-Brazzaville Referendum to Decide on Denis Sassou Nguesso Third Term

Poland Elections 2015: Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s Eurosceptic Law and Justice Party Tipped to Win

Poles are voting in the country’s parliamentary elections, with the conservatives hoping to return to power after eight years in opposition. Opinion polls in run-up to the election put the Law and Justice party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski well ahead of Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz’s Civic Platform party. Law and Justice party regained the presidency… Continue reading Poland Elections 2015: Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s Eurosceptic Law and Justice Party Tipped to Win

Argentina Elections 2015: Voters to Pick Replacement for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

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Argentina is voting to choose the country’s next president in a general election that ends 12 years of rule under the Kirchners. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has served two consecutive terms and, under Argentina’s constitution, cannot run again. Cristina Fernandez’s hand-picked successor, left-winger Daniel Scioli, is leading polls. However, Daniel Scioli he is expected… Continue reading Argentina Elections 2015: Voters to Pick Replacement for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

White House 2016: Lincoln Chafee Drops out of Democratic Presidential Race

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Lincoln Chafee has announced he is dropping out of the Democratic presidential race. The former Rhode Island Governor told the Democratic National Committee on October 23 he was ending his candidacy for the 2016 election. The 62-year-old has struggled to raise money and make any impact in the Democratic field, which is led by Hillary… Continue reading White House 2016: Lincoln Chafee Drops out of Democratic Presidential Race

Joe Biden Will Not Run for 2016 Democratic Nomination

Joe Biden will not run for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 White House race. The 72-year-old vice-president said his family was ready after the death of his son, Beau Biden, earlier this year, but he had now run out of time. He also said it would be a mistake for Democrats to turn their… Continue reading Joe Biden Will Not Run for 2016 Democratic Nomination

Paul Ryan Willing to Be House Speaker with Conditions

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Paul Ryan has said he will run for House Speaker if Republicans in the chamber unite behind his candidacy. The Wisconsin Representative, who ran as Mitt Romney’s vice-presidential candidate in 2012, is seen as his party’s best hope to elect an effective Congressional leader. A group of ultra-conservative House members have recently rebelled against party… Continue reading Paul Ryan Willing to Be House Speaker with Conditions

Marine Le Pen Appears in Court over Muslim Remarks

Marine Le Pen has appeared in court in Lyon, to answer charges of inciting racial hatred, for comparing Muslims praying in the street to the Nazi occupation. The French National Front (FN) leader made the comments at a rally in Lyon in 2010 when she was fighting for the leadership of the party. Marine Le… Continue reading Marine Le Pen Appears in Court over Muslim Remarks

Canada Elections 2015: Justin Trudeau’s Liberals Make Stunning Comeback

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party has decisively won Canada’s general election, ending nearly a decade of Conservative rule. The centrist Liberals started the campaign in third place but in a stunning turnaround now command a majority. Justin Trudeau, the 43-year-old son of late PM Pierre Trudeau, said Canadians had voted for real change. Incumbent Conservative PM… Continue reading Canada Elections 2015: Justin Trudeau’s Liberals Make Stunning Comeback

Canada Elections 2015: PM Stephen Harper Fighting for Fourth Term

The Canadian federal elections, formally known as the 42nd Canadian general election, will be held on Monday, October 19. Canadians vote to elect members to the House of Commons of Canada. Incumbent Conservative PM Stephen Harper is fighting for a rare fourth term but the frontrunner is Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, son of late PM… Continue reading Canada Elections 2015: PM Stephen Harper Fighting for Fourth Term