Voters in Guatemala are heading to the polls in presidential elections amid a deep political crisis. Former President Otto Perez Molina resigned this week and was swiftly arrested over a customs fraud scheme. Many people in the Latin American country have called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations. Leading… Continue reading Guatemala Elections 2015: Voters Heading to Polls amid Political Crisis
Category: Economy & Politics
Economy and Politics news articles.
Poll: Donald Trump Beats Hillary Clinton in Head-to Head Matchup
According to a SurveyUSA poll released on September 4, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump leads Democrat Hillary Clinton head-to-head. The poll finds that matched up directly, Donald Trump garners 45% to Hillary Clinton’s 40%. In other head-to-head matchups, Donald Trump beats out Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) by 44% to 40%; Vice President Joe Biden by… Continue reading Poll: Donald Trump Beats Hillary Clinton in Head-to Head Matchup
US Employers Add 173,000 Jobs in August 2015
The Department of Labor has reported on September 4 that the US economy added 173,000 jobs in August. This is the last unemployment report before September’s interest rate decision by the Federal Reserve. The number of jobs was below the 217,000 predicted by analysts, although the Labor Department said that figures for August tend to… Continue reading US Employers Add 173,000 Jobs in August 2015
US Trade Deficit Falls to Five-Month Low in July 2015
According to the latest official figures released by Commerce Department, the US trade deficit with the rest of the world fell to a five-month low in July. The US trade deficit declined 7.4% to $41.9 billion, compared with $45.2 billion in June, the US Commerce Department said. It represents the difference between the value of… Continue reading US Trade Deficit Falls to Five-Month Low in July 2015
White House 2016: Will Joe Biden Join Presidential Race?
Vice-President Joe Biden says he does not know if he has the “emotional energy” to run for president in 2016. Joe Biden, 72, said at a foreign policy lecture in Atlanta: “I can’t look you straight in the eye and say now, <<I know I can do it>>.” The Democrat lost his son, Beau Biden,… Continue reading White House 2016: Will Joe Biden Join Presidential Race?
Donald Trump Signs GOP Loyalty Pledge
Donald Trump has signed a GOP loyalty pledge agreeing not to run as an independent candidate if he loses the Republican nomination for the 2016 elections. The presidential hopeful said on September 3: “I will be totally pledging my allegiance to the Republican Party and the conservative principles for which it stands.” Donald Trump had… Continue reading Donald Trump Signs GOP Loyalty Pledge
Australian Economic Growth Lower than Expected in Q2 2015
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistic, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew less than expected in Q2 2015 as the economy struggled to gain momentum. The Australian economy expanded 0.2% from the previous quarter and was up 2% compared with the same period last year. Quarterly growth of 0.4% had been widely expected,… Continue reading Australian Economic Growth Lower than Expected in Q2 2015
World Stocks Plunge on China Manufacturing Data
Global stock markets have been hit by renewed fears over China’s economic growth, with the main indexes falling sharply. Wall Street traded sharply lower, with the Dow Jones down more than 300 points, or 1.9%, at 16,215. European markets also fell, with the London’s FTSE 100 closing down 3% and France’s CAC 40 and Germany’s… Continue reading World Stocks Plunge on China Manufacturing Data
China Stock Market Hit by Weak Manufacturing Data
China’s stock market has continued its recent slide after fresh data provided further evidence of a slowdown in the country’s economy. According to an official survey, China’s manufacturing activity contracted at its fastest pace in three years in August. As a result, the mainland’s benchmark Shanghai Composite share index fell by 1.2% to 3,166.62. In… Continue reading China Stock Market Hit by Weak Manufacturing Data
Eurozone Unemployment Falls to Lowest Rate in Three Years
Eurozone unemployment fell in July 2015 to its lowest rate in more than three years, Eurostat figures have shown. According to the EU statistics agency, the unemployment rate in the currency union fell to 10.9% in July from 11.1% the month before. The fall was helped by a sharp fall in Italy’s unemployment, where the… Continue reading Eurozone Unemployment Falls to Lowest Rate in Three Years
Canada Entered Recession in Q2 2015
Canada has entered recession in Q2 2015, official figures have shown. The Canadian gross domestic product (GDP) fell by an annualized rate of 0.5% between April and June. That follows a contraction of 0.8% in Q1 2015, meaning the economy has seen two consecutive quarters of negative growth, the usual definition of recession. The data… Continue reading Canada Entered Recession in Q2 2015
China Market Crisis: Fresh Manufacturing Data Confirms Slowdown
According to fresh economic data, the Chinese factory activity contracted at its fastest pace in three years in August, confirming the slowdown in the country’s economy. The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) dropped to 49.7 from 50 in July. A figure below 50 indicates contraction. The weak data is likely to add to global… Continue reading China Market Crisis: Fresh Manufacturing Data Confirms Slowdown
Brazil Enters Recession After Two Consecutive Quarters of Economic Contraction
Brazil’s economy has entered recession after official figures showed it contracted by 1.9% between in Q2 2015 compared with the previous three months. Analysts had expected a contraction, but the number was worse than expected. Q1 2015 output was also revised down to show a 0.7%, rather than a 0.2%, contraction. Brazil, the seventh-largest economy… Continue reading Brazil Enters Recession After Two Consecutive Quarters of Economic Contraction
Vassiliki Thanou Becomes Greece’s First Female Prime Minister
Vassiliki Thanou, Greece’s top Supreme Court judge, has been appointed caretaker prime minister ahead of early elections next month. Greece’s President Prokopis Pavlopoulos named Vassiliki Thanou after efforts to form a coalition failed. Last week, Alex Tsipras resigned as prime minister to seek a new mandate for office. Vassiliki Thanou, 65, becomes Greece’s first female… Continue reading Vassiliki Thanou Becomes Greece’s First Female Prime Minister
Greece Debt Crisis: Far-left Rebels in Ruling Syriza Party Break Away to Form New Party
Syriza rebels will form a new party trying to govern Greece, local media reports. Former Prime Minister and left-wing Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras stood down on August 20, paving the way for new elections. The move came after Alexis Tsipras lost the support of many of his own members of parliament in a vote on… Continue reading Greece Debt Crisis: Far-left Rebels in Ruling Syriza Party Break Away to Form New Party
Jean-Marie Le Pen Expelled from France’s Front National
France’s far-right Front National (FN) has expelled its founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, following a feud with daughter and party leader Marine Le Pen. Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was honorary president, was dismissed after a three-hour extraordinary party congress. He was initially suspended back in May, after he repeated his view that the Holocaust was “a… Continue reading Jean-Marie Le Pen Expelled from France’s Front National
Finland Plans Basic Income Experiment
Finland is planning to start a pilot project that would see the state pay people a basic income regardless of whether they work. The details of how much the basic income might be and who would be eligible for it are yet to be announced, but already there is widespread interest in how it might… Continue reading Finland Plans Basic Income Experiment
Alexis Tsipras Resigns Forcing Snap Election
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras has announced he is stepping down and has called an early election. Alexis Tsipras had faced a rebellion within his ruling hard-left Syriza party over a new bailout deal which has been agreed with international creditors. Greece received the first €13 billion ($14.5 billion) tranche on August 20, allowing it to… Continue reading Alexis Tsipras Resigns Forcing Snap Election
Greece: PM Alexis Tsipras to Call Snap Election for September 20
According to Greek media, PM Alexis Tsipras is set to call a snap election for September 20. Alexis Tsipras has faced a rebellion within his ruling hard-left Syriza party over a new bailout deal which has been agreed with international creditors. Greece received the first €13 billion ($14.5 billion) tranche on August 20, allowing it… Continue reading Greece: PM Alexis Tsipras to Call Snap Election for September 20
Weak Global Economy Spark Falling of Shares and Oil Prices
Oil prices and stock markets around the world have seen further falls, sparked by the renewed fears over the health of the global economy. China shares fell 1.5% after the authorities intervened again on the stock market to little effect. Expectations of a US interest rate rise dimmed after the Federal Reserve said the economy… Continue reading Weak Global Economy Spark Falling of Shares and Oil Prices
Burundi Inauguration: Pierre Nkurunziza Sworn in for Third Term
Pierre Nkurunziza has been sworn in for a controversial third term as Burundi president. The ceremony came as a surprise, as Pierre Nkurunziza had been expected to be sworn in next week. At least 100 people have died in protests since Pierre Nkurunziza, 51, announced in April he would run for a third term. The… Continue reading Burundi Inauguration: Pierre Nkurunziza Sworn in for Third Term
Greece Debt Crisis: German Parliament Approves Third Bailout Deal
German parliament has voted by a large majority to approve a third bailout deal for Greece. In total 453 members of parliament voted in favor, while 113 rejected the bailout and 18 abstained. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble earlier warned parliament that it would be “irresponsible” to oppose the €86 billion ($95 billion) package. Chancellor… Continue reading Greece Debt Crisis: German Parliament Approves Third Bailout Deal
Hillary Clinton Emails to Be Reviewed over Classified Information
Hundreds of Hillary Clinton’s emails from her private server are to be reviewed to see if they contain classified information. The State Department identified the emails as it carries out its check on whether they can be released publicly. Hillary Clinton’s use of private email while secretary of state for four years has sparked a… Continue reading Hillary Clinton Emails to Be Reviewed over Classified Information
Donald Trump Wants to End Automatic Right to Citizenship for Illegal Immigrants’ Babies
In a recent interview, Donald Trump says he wants to end the automatic right to citizenship for all children born in the US. Under the current law, all children born in the United States – even if their parents are illegal immigrants – get citizenship under the constitution. Other measures the Republican presidential hopeful outlined… Continue reading Donald Trump Wants to End Automatic Right to Citizenship for Illegal Immigrants’ Babies
Sri Lanka Elections 2015: Mahinda Rajapaksa Hopes to Return to Office as PM
Voters in Sri Lanka are going to the polls in a general election, with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa hoping to return to office as prime minister. Mahinda Rajapaksa lost the presidency in a snap election in January to his former health minister, Maithripala Sirisena. Four people have died in violent incidents during the campaign although… Continue reading Sri Lanka Elections 2015: Mahinda Rajapaksa Hopes to Return to Office as PM