Poland Elections 2015: Andrzej Duda Wins Presidency, Exit Polls Suggest

Poland’s Incumbent President Bronislaw Komorowski has conceded election defeat to challenger Andrzej Duda following the release of exit polls. The exit polls suggested conservative Andrzej Duda had taken the run-off vote by 53% to 47%. Andrzej Duda had edged Bronislaw Komorowski, who had been the favorite, in the first round but did not gain the… Continue reading Poland Elections 2015: Andrzej Duda Wins Presidency, Exit Polls Suggest

Poland Elections 2015: Andrzej Duda vs Bronislaw Komorowski in Run-Off Vote

Polish voters are going to the polls on May 24 to choose its new president in a run-off vote. In the first round on May 10, neither Conservative challenger Andrzej Duda nor incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski gained the 50% needed to win outright. Andrzej Duda edged Bronislaw Komorowski, who had been the favorite and is looking… Continue reading Poland Elections 2015: Andrzej Duda vs Bronislaw Komorowski in Run-Off Vote

Riga Summit 2015: Ukraine to Receive 1.8 Billion Euro Loan from EU

Ukraine is to receive a €1.8 billion ($2 billion) loan from the European Union. The move is described as a landmark deal for a non-EU member. The agreement was signed at an EU summit in Riga, Latvia, with the leaders of six post-Soviet nations. The EU loan aims to help cash-strapped Ukraine implement economic reforms,… Continue reading Riga Summit 2015: Ukraine to Receive 1.8 Billion Euro Loan from EU

India: Jayaram Jayalalitha Set to Return as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

Former Indian actress Jayaram Jayalalitha is set to return as the chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu after the state governor invited her to form a new ministry. Jayaram Jayalalitha’s conviction in a corruption scandal in 2014 had cut short her fourth term as the chief minister, but earlier this month, an… Continue reading India: Jayaram Jayalalitha Set to Return as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

White House 2016: Lindsey Graham Confirms Presidential Bid

Lindsey Graham has confirmed that he will run for the White House in 2016. The South Carolina Republican senator has told CBS This Morning that he would make an official announcement on June 1st in his home town of Central. When asked why he was considering it, Lindsey Graham said “I’m running” because “the world… Continue reading White House 2016: Lindsey Graham Confirms Presidential Bid

Greece Debt Deal Could Be Reached Within Next Week

Greece is expected to reach an agreement with its international creditors within the next week, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said. The Greek government is fast running out of money and is due to make a payment of €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on June 5. Yanis Varoufakis told Star… Continue reading Greece Debt Deal Could Be Reached Within Next Week

Germany’s Economic Growth Slows Down in Q1 2015

According to latest official figures, the German economy slowed by more than expected in Q1 2015, growing by just 0.3%. That compares with growth of 0.7% in Q4 2015, and was below analysts’ estimates of 0.5%. Meanwhile, the French economy grew at its fastest rate in nearly two years, expanding by 0.6% in Q1 2015.… Continue reading Germany’s Economic Growth Slows Down in Q1 2015

Greece Makes €750 Million Debt Interest Payment to IMF

The Greek government has started the transfer of €750 million ($834 million) in debt interest to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The move was carried out as eurozone finance ministers met in Brussels in a bid to unlock the final €7.2 billion tranche of Greece’s €240 billion EU/IMF bailout. The eurozone finance ministers said Greece… Continue reading Greece Makes €750 Million Debt Interest Payment to IMF

US Economy Adds 223,000 New Jobs in April 2015

The US economy created 223,000 new jobs in April 2015, a much larger increase than the month before. According to the US Department of Labor, the unemployment rate dropped to a seven-year low of 5.4%, down from 5.5% in March. Big job gains in the service sector helped to offset weakness in mining, Investors welcomed… Continue reading US Economy Adds 223,000 New Jobs in April 2015

Greece Crisis: Government Seeks Eurozone Approval of Fiscal Progress

Greece is hopeful that Eurozone ministers will recognize the fiscal progress it has made. Eurozone finance ministers are meeting in Brussels on May 11 to continue negotiations on a deal to release a portion of billions of bailout funds. Greek ministers say they will honor a payment of €750 million ($834 million) to the IMF… Continue reading Greece Crisis: Government Seeks Eurozone Approval of Fiscal Progress

Poland Elections 2015: President Bronislaw Komorowski Hopes to Win Second Term

Poles are voting to elect the country’s president for the next five years. Poland’s presidential elections on May 10 have a colorful cast of candidates whose antics are providing most of the drama, because there is little suspense about the result: incumbent President Bronislaw Komorowski expected to easily win a second term in office. Opinion… Continue reading Poland Elections 2015: President Bronislaw Komorowski Hopes to Win Second Term

Greece Crisis: Public Sector Workers Rehired Despite Bailout Talks

A defiant Greece has decided to rehire thousands of public sector workers, including cleaning ladies, despite sustained pressure from its international creditors. Greek lawmakers passed a law to give back jobs to some 4,000 workers who were laid off under severe austerity cuts. The move comes as Athens seeks a deal on more financial aid… Continue reading Greece Crisis: Public Sector Workers Rehired Despite Bailout Talks

UK Elections 2015: David Cameron’s Conservatives Win Majority in Commons

David Cameron’s conservatives have won the UK’s general elections and are expected to form a slender majority in the Commons. His party made gains in England and Wales. Ed Miliband is expected to stand down later after Labour Party was all but wiped out by the SNP in Scotland. The Liberal Democrats are also heading… Continue reading UK Elections 2015: David Cameron’s Conservatives Win Majority in Commons

UK Elections 2015: Millions Vote to Elect the 56th Parliament of United Kingdom

British people are expected to head to polling stations to cast their votes in the UK general election. The voters will elect the 56th Parliament of the United Kingdom after the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 led to the mandated dissolution of the 55th Parliament on March 30, 2015. There are also local elections scheduled to… Continue reading UK Elections 2015: Millions Vote to Elect the 56th Parliament of United Kingdom

White House 2016: Mike Huckabee Launches Second Presidential Bid

Mike Huckabee has announced his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination on May 5th. The former Arkansas governor has launched his second attempt at getting the Republican nomination for the presidency. At a rally in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas, Mike Huckabee used the phrase “hope to higher ground” as a motif. The bass… Continue reading White House 2016: Mike Huckabee Launches Second Presidential Bid

Jean-Marie Le Pen Wants His Daughter to Change Name

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s far-right National Front party, says he is “ashamed” his daughter – current party leader Marine Le Pen – still bears his surname. Amid a growing feud, Jean-Marie Le Pen said he hoped she “would get married as quickly as possible so as to change her name”. Jean-Marie Le… Continue reading Jean-Marie Le Pen Wants His Daughter to Change Name

Australia Cuts Key Interest Rate to All-Time Low of 2%

Australia’s central bank (the Reserve Bank of Australia) has cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to a historic low of 2%. Rising property prices in Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, a strong currency and a drop in iron ore prices are among the reasons for the cut. The cut is the second in… Continue reading Australia Cuts Key Interest Rate to All-Time Low of 2%

Jean-Marie Le Pen May Lose Front National’s Honorary Presidency

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the former leader of France’s National Front, will find out if he is to lose his post of honorary president after a series of inflammatory remarks and a protracted feud with his daughter, Marine Le Pen. National Front President Marine Le Pen said on the eve of the far-right party’s board meeting… Continue reading Jean-Marie Le Pen May Lose Front National’s Honorary Presidency

Togo Elections 2015: President Faure Gnassingbe Re-Elected for Third Term

Faure Gnassingbe has won a third term as Togo’s president, electoral officials say. According to provisional results, Faure Gnassingbe gained 59% of the vote, extending his family’s 48-year hold on power. Observers from the African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS (Economic Community of Western African States) said the election was free and fair, despite opposition… Continue reading Togo Elections 2015: President Faure Gnassingbe Re-Elected for Third Term

King Salman of Saudi Arabia Names New Crown Prince

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King Salman of Saudi Arabia has announced a major cabinet reshuffle that puts in place a new generation to succeed him as head of the kingdom. The new king has appointed his nephew, Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as Crown Prince, replacing Prince Moqrin bin Abdul Aziz. His son, Mohammed bin Salman, believed to… Continue reading King Salman of Saudi Arabia Names New Crown Prince

Greece Crisis: PM Alexis Tsipras Believes EU Deal Will Be in Place by May 9

Greece’s PM Alexis Tsipras has said his country is in the final, critical stretch of talks with its international creditors and that he believes an interim deal will be in place by May 9. Greece’s objective was to find an agreement this week or next week at the latest, Alexis Tsipras said in a marathon… Continue reading Greece Crisis: PM Alexis Tsipras Believes EU Deal Will Be in Place by May 9

Northern Cyprus Election 2015: Mustafa Akinci Wins Presidential Runoff

Photo Reuters

Mustafa Akinci has won the presidential election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Standing as an independent, leftist Mustafa Akinci, 67, won 60.3% of the votes in Sunday’s runoff, according to election commission figures. He defeated incumbent conservative President Dervis Eroglu, a conservative elected five years ago. Mustafa Akinci has said he would work… Continue reading Northern Cyprus Election 2015: Mustafa Akinci Wins Presidential Runoff

Gazprom Charged with Abusing Dominant Market Position in EU

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Russian energy giant Gazprom has been charged by the European Commission with abusing its dominant market position in Central and Eastern European gas markets. The EC said its preliminary view was that Gazprom was breaking EU anti-trust rules. It added the company may have limited its customers’ ability to resell gas, potentially allowing it to… Continue reading Gazprom Charged with Abusing Dominant Market Position in EU

Oil prices to rise further

Oil prices will rise further, say industry leaders at the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Indonesia. Industry leaders at the meeting in Jakarta said the long-term view was that demand for oil is growing. Oil prices are around their highest levels for 2015. The price of Brent crude was at $63 a barrel… Continue reading Oil prices to rise further

South Korea: PM Lee Wan-koo in bribery scandal

South Korean PM Lee Wan-koo has offered to resign after facing accusations of accepting bribes. President Park Geun-hye has not said if she will accept Lee Wan-koo’s resignation, but has expressed sympathy for him. State news agency Yonhap said Park Geun-hye had called for a “thorough investigation” into the scandal. Lee Wan-koo denies accepting 30… Continue reading South Korea: PM Lee Wan-koo in bribery scandal