Eduardo Cunha: Brazil’s Speaker Accused of Corruption

The speaker of Brazil’s lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, is being accused of keeping millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts, Brazilian prosecutors say. According to prosecutors, the money was obtained illegally and not declared. Eduardo Cunha denies the charges and says he is being unfairly targeted by the Prosecutor’s Office. He has been… Continue reading Eduardo Cunha: Brazil’s Speaker Accused of Corruption

Egypt Elections 2015: Voters to Elect New Parliament

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Egyptians are voting in the first round of long-delayed elections to choose a new parliament. Today’s parliamentary elections are the first since the previous chamber was dissolved by a court ruling in 2012. The authorities say the poll is the final step in a transition to democracy. However, critics say most candidates are supporters of… Continue reading Egypt Elections 2015: Voters to Elect New Parliament

Guinea Elections 2015: Alpha Conde Re-Elected for Second Term

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Alpha Conde has won a second term as Guinea’s president, the country’s election commission has announced, six days after polling ended. The 77-year-old won in the first round with about 58% of votes cast. Main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, who has denounced the vote as fraudulent, won 31%. He has called for peaceful protests… Continue reading Guinea Elections 2015: Alpha Conde Re-Elected for Second Term

Taiwan Elections 2016: KMT Replaces Hung-Hsiu-chu as Presidential Candidate

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Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party has ditched Hung Hsiu-chu as its candidate for the island’s presidential election in January 2016. At an emergency congress, party members voted overwhelmingly to drop Hung Hsiu-chu following a series of poor ratings in opinion polls. Hung Hsiu-chu will be replaced by the KMT’s chairman, Eric Chu. Before the decision,… Continue reading Taiwan Elections 2016: KMT Replaces Hung-Hsiu-chu as Presidential Candidate

Donald Trump’s Campaign Received $3.8 Million in Unsolicited Donations

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Donald Trump has received up to nearly $4 million in unsolicited campaign donations in the last three months. Between July 1 and September 30, Donald Trump’s campaign received 73,942 unsolicited donations, pumping $3.8 million into the tycoon’s campaign coffers. The average contribution was about $50, and 71% of the money came from donors giving less than $200. Donald Trump contributed $100,779… Continue reading Donald Trump’s Campaign Received $3.8 Million in Unsolicited Donations

Venezuela: Exiled Opposition Leader Manuel Rosales Arrested in Maracaibo

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Venezuelan educator and opposition leader Manuel Rosales has been arrested on his return to the country after 6 years of self-imposed exile. Manuel Rosales, who said he wanted to take part in December’s parliamentary elections, was detained shortly after landing in the city of Maracaibo. The politician ran against the late President Hugo Chavez in… Continue reading Venezuela: Exiled Opposition Leader Manuel Rosales Arrested in Maracaibo

China CPI Slows More than Expected in September 2015

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China’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.6% in September 2015 compared with a year earlier, the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. That was lower than analysts’ forecasts of 1.8%, and down from the rate of 2% recorded in August 2015. Producer prices fell for a 43rd straight month as manufacturers cut prices to… Continue reading China CPI Slows More than Expected in September 2015

Asian Markets Trade Lower on China’s Disappointing Economic Data

Asian markets traded lower on Wednesday, October 14, as investors digested disappointing economic data from China. Chinese inflation figures came in weaker than expected, and came a day after trade figures showed a steep fall in imports. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index closed down 1.8% at 17,907.39. China’s main index Shanghai Composite edged up 0.2% to… Continue reading Asian Markets Trade Lower on China’s Disappointing Economic Data

Brazil: President Dilma Rousseff Accuses Opposition of Coup-Mongering

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has accused her political opponents of seeking to oust her government by “coup-mongering”. Speaking at a meeting of union leaders in Sao Paulo on October 13, Dilma Rousseff also said the opposition was spreading hatred and intolerance across Brazil. Dilma Rousseff’s comments come after an audit court last week ruled that… Continue reading Brazil: President Dilma Rousseff Accuses Opposition of Coup-Mongering

Democratic Debate 2015: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Clash on Gun Control

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Hillary Clinton has clashed with her main rival Bernie Sanders over gun control at the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas. When asked if the Vermont senator was strong on gun control, Hillary Clinton said “no, not at all” before vowing to go after the makers of guns used in shootings. Bernie Sanders also… Continue reading Democratic Debate 2015: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Clash on Gun Control

Democratic Debate 2015: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to Face off in First Debate

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Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is preparing for the first Democratic presidential debate, seeking to mix her mastery of policy with a more personal touch. Meanwhile, for chief rival Bernie Sanders, the debate is a chance to reach a broader audience after months of appealing to the party’s most liberal voters. However, unlike recent Republican debates,… Continue reading Democratic Debate 2015: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to Face off in First Debate

China Imports Fell More than Expected in September 2015

China’s imports fell a more-than-expected 17.7% in yuan-denominated terms in September 2015, while exports fell 1.1% from a year earlier, official figures show. The new figures leave China with a trade surplus of 376.2 billion yuan ($59.4 billion). The steep fall in imports compares with a fall of 14.3% in August and continues to reflect… Continue reading China Imports Fell More than Expected in September 2015

2015 Nobel Economics Prize Awarded to Angus Deaton

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This year’s Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was awarded to Prof. Angus Deaton “for his analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare”. Angus Deaton from Princeton University said he was delighted to have won the prize. The 69-year-old described himself as “someone who’s concerned with the poor of the world… Continue reading 2015 Nobel Economics Prize Awarded to Angus Deaton

Belarus Elections 2015: Alexander Lukashenko Wins Fifth Term After with 83% of Vote

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Alexander Lukashenko has won a fifth term as Belarus’ president after a landslide victory in the country’s presidential election, exit polls say. An exit poll indicates that Alexander Lukashenko secured nearly 83% of the vote, state media reports. No other candidate achieved more than 5%. Alexander Lukashenko has governed the former Soviet republic almost unchallenged… Continue reading Belarus Elections 2015: Alexander Lukashenko Wins Fifth Term After with 83% of Vote

Guinea Elections 2015: President Alpha Conde Favorite to Win

Guinea is voting to elect a new president amid violent clashes between opposition and pro-government supporters. Seven candidates are competing against President Alpha Conde, who is hoping to win a second term. Alpha Conde’s main challenger, Cellou Dalein Diallo, has urged his supporters to vote despite Guinea’s top court rejecting his plea for a delay.… Continue reading Guinea Elections 2015: President Alpha Conde Favorite to Win

Hillary Clinton Unveils Plan to Curb Wall Street Abuses

Hillary Clinton has unveiled her plan to curb Wall Street abuses. The Democratic presidential front-runner’s proposals include harsher penalties for executives, including forcing them to share fines imposed against their institutions. Hillary Clinton said there was still too much risk in the financial system:“<<Too big to fail>> is still too big a problem.” The plan… Continue reading Hillary Clinton Unveils Plan to Curb Wall Street Abuses

World Bank Trims Asia Pacific Growth Forecast for 2015 and 2016

The World Bank has decided to cut Asia growth forecast for 2015 and 2016, because of the risks posed from a sharp slowdown in China and raising US interest rates. The bank now expects growth in developing East Asia and the Pacific to be 6.5% in 2015 and 6.4% in 2016, down from an earlier… Continue reading World Bank Trims Asia Pacific Growth Forecast for 2015 and 2016

Extreme Poverty Falls to Record Low in 2015

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For the first time less than 10% of the world’s population will be living in extreme poverty by the end of 2015, the World Bank has said. The World Bank said it was using a new income figure of $1.90 per day to define extreme poverty, up from $1.25. The bank forecasts the proportion of… Continue reading Extreme Poverty Falls to Record Low in 2015

Portugal Elections 2015: Pedro Passos Coelho’s Coalition Wins

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Portugal’s centre-right governing coalition has won the country’s parliamentary elections, exit polls and early results suggest. The coalition, led by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, is ahead with about 40% of the vote, followed by the Socialists on just under 32%, the partial results suggest. Portugal’s elections were seen as a referendum on four years… Continue reading Portugal Elections 2015: Pedro Passos Coelho’s Coalition Wins

Portugal Elections 2015: PM Pedro Passos Coelho Poised to Lead Centre-Right Coalition to Victory

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Portugal is voting in a parliamentary election that is widely seen as a referendum on four years of spending cuts and market reforms. The centre-right governing coalition has vowed to continue austerity policies in place since 2011, after it was forced to seek a eurozone bailout. The Socialists and other left-wing groups have criticized the… Continue reading Portugal Elections 2015: PM Pedro Passos Coelho Poised to Lead Centre-Right Coalition to Victory

Donald Trump: “If I Win, Syrian Refugees Are Going Back”

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At a New Hampshire rally, Donald Trump talked about the current refugee crisis saying that he would send home all Syrian refugees the US accepts, if he becomes president. The Republican presidential frontrunner said: “If I win, they’re going back.” It marks a reversal in policy – earlier this month Donald Trump told Fox News… Continue reading Donald Trump: “If I Win, Syrian Refugees Are Going Back”

Eurozone Countries Back in Deflation in September 2015

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Eurozone countries returned to deflation in September 2015 as prices fell at an annual rate of 0.1%, according to the Eurostate statistics agency. It is the first time inflation had turned negative for six months, with an 8.9% fall in the price of energy largely responsible for the decline. Core inflation in the countries that… Continue reading Eurozone Countries Back in Deflation in September 2015

Donald Trump Unveils Tax Plan

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Donald Trump has unveiled his tax plan, which would eliminate income tax for millions of Americans. Wealthy Americans and businesses would also pay less in taxes under the Republican frontrunner’s plan. Donald Trump’s plan would eliminate income tax for people earning less than $25,000 and married couples jointly earning less than $50,000. The Republican presidential… Continue reading Donald Trump Unveils Tax Plan

Catalonia Elections 2015: Pro-Independence Parties Win Absolute Majority

Catalonia’s pro-independence parties have won an absolute majority in Spain’s regional elections, early results show. With more than 90% of the votes counted, the main separatist alliance and a smaller party won 72 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament. They said earlier a majority would allow them to declare independence from Spain unilaterally within 18… Continue reading Catalonia Elections 2015: Pro-Independence Parties Win Absolute Majority

Catalonia Elections 2015: Nationalist Parties Join Forces for Independence

Catalonia is voting in regional elections that nationalist parties hope will set them on the road to independence from Spain. Two separatist parties have joined forces, and are aiming to secure a majority of seats in parliament – 68 out of 135. They say this would allow them to unilaterally declare independence within 18 months.… Continue reading Catalonia Elections 2015: Nationalist Parties Join Forces for Independence