Israel: Former PM Ehud Olmert found guilty in Morris Talansky case after corruption retrial

Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has been found guilty in the Morris Talansky case after a corruption retrial. The Jerusalem District Court on March 30 found Ehud Olmert guilty of fraud and breach of trust. The judges noted that new evidence provided to the court disproves Ehud Olmert’s version of events, according to which he… Continue reading Israel: Former PM Ehud Olmert found guilty in Morris Talansky case after corruption retrial

Nigeria elections 2015: Counting ballots under way

Nigeria has continued counting ballots in its presidential election, with the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan facing a strong challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari. The election commission (INEC) said it hoped to announce the winner on March 30. The UN has praised the poll despite technical hitches, protests and violence linked to Boko Haram. Voting… Continue reading Nigeria elections 2015: Counting ballots under way

France local elections 2015: Polls suggest Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP win

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Nicolas Sarkozy’s Conservative UMP Party and its allies appear to have come first in the final round of French local elections. The UMP appeared set to secure more than 60 local councils, exit polls suggested, up from 41. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front also appeared to have made gains, while the ruling Socialists and… Continue reading France local elections 2015: Polls suggest Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP win

Nigeria elections 2015: Voting extended after delays and attacks

Voting in parts of Nigeria have been extended until Sunday, March 29, after delays and a number of attacks. Technical problems with new biometric cards slowed down voter registration, even affecting President Goodluck Jonathan. More than 20 people have reportedly been killed in various attacks by unknown gunmen. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan is facing a… Continue reading Nigeria elections 2015: Voting extended after delays and attacks

Nigeria elections 2015: Goodluck Jonathan faces strong challenge from Muhammadu Buhari

Nigeria has begun voting for a new president, with incumbent Goodluck Jonathan facing a strong challenge from Muhammadu Buhari. It is said to be the most closely fought election since independence. The election was delayed by six weeks to allow the army to recapture territory from militant Islamist group Boko Haram. The two main presidential… Continue reading Nigeria elections 2015: Goodluck Jonathan faces strong challenge from Muhammadu Buhari

New Senate Bill To Create Online Database Of Asbestos Products

Credit The US Senate has announced plans to create an online database of all legal products sold on the market today that still contain asbestos. It has been known for years the substance is capable of causing a dangerous and aggressive form of cancer. However, there are hundreds of thousands of items that have not… Continue reading New Senate Bill To Create Online Database Of Asbestos Products

White House 2016: Ted Cruz launches presidential campaign at Liberty University

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Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz has made individual liberty the key theme of his presidential campaign announcement. Speaking at Liberty University in Virginia, Ted Cruz is one of several Republican hopefuls to emerge from the Tea Party movement. He described his mission as “reigniting the promise of America” because “for so many Americans the promise… Continue reading White House 2016: Ted Cruz launches presidential campaign at Liberty University

White House 2016: Ted Cruz confirms presidency bid

Texas Senator Ted Cruz has confirmed his bid for the US presidency, becoming the first Republican to declare his campaign for the White House 2016. The Republican tweeted: “I’m running for President and I hope to earn your support.” Ted Cruz, 44, is to set out his plans in detail in a speech at Liberty… Continue reading White House 2016: Ted Cruz confirms presidency bid

France local elections 2015: Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP holds off Marine Le Pen’s FN on first round

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Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservative Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party and its allies have taken first place in the first round of French local elections, partial results show. Projections suggest that Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front (FN) – despite strong gains – came second with about 25% of the vote, behind the conservatives on… Continue reading France local elections 2015: Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP holds off Marine Le Pen’s FN on first round

Lee Kuan Yew: Former Singapore prime minister dies aged 91

Former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed the island country from a small port city into a wealthy global hub, has died at the age of 91. Lee Kuan Yew served as the city-state’s prime minister for 31 years, and continued to work in government until 2011. Highly respected as the architect of… Continue reading Lee Kuan Yew: Former Singapore prime minister dies aged 91

France local elections 2015: Marine Le Pen’s National Front expected to score big gains

French people are voting in local elections in which Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front party (FN) is expected to score big gains. Voters are electing representatives in 101 departments, or counties, charged with issues like schools and welfare. Sunday’s first round will be followed a second in a week’s time. Polls suggest that the… Continue reading France local elections 2015: Marine Le Pen’s National Front expected to score big gains

Abdullah Ocalan calls for PKK fighters to end armed struggle in Turkey

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of Kurdistan Workers’ Party in Turkey, has renewed a call for his fighters to end their armed struggle in the country. In a message read out at a huge rally marking the Kurdish New Year, Abdullah Ocalan called for a congress to decide on abandoning the insurgency. PKK has been… Continue reading Abdullah Ocalan calls for PKK fighters to end armed struggle in Turkey

John Boehner to visit Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel

House Speaker John Boehner plans to visit Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel next month. Republicans have been highly critical of President Barack Obama over the deteriorating relationship with Israel. John Boehner’s visit will take place in April, weeks after a clear election victory for Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party. During the campaign, Benjamin Netanyahu vowed… Continue reading John Boehner to visit Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel

Global Trade Peaking in Africa by Way of the Middle East

Global Trade Peaking in Africa by Way of the Middle East

As the world economy becomes more globalized, developed nations are starting to look at those that are less wealthy as prime places to trade with and invest in. It is because of this that global trade is now starting to peak in Africa, a region long ignored when it came to trade agreements. One of… Continue reading Global Trade Peaking in Africa by Way of the Middle East

Barack Obama endorses mandatory voting in US

President Barack Obama talked about a mandatory voting in the US during his speech at the City Club of Cleveland on March 18. The president attended talks on middle-class economics and manufacturing at Cleveland Convention Center. Just ask Australia, where citizens have no choice but to vote, the president said. “If everybody voted, then it… Continue reading Barack Obama endorses mandatory voting in US

Yingluck Shinawatra ordered to stand trial for negligence over rice subsidy scheme

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Thailand’s former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been ordered by the Supreme Court to stand trial for negligence over a controversial rice subsidy scheme. Yingluck Shinawatra is facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. It is the latest blow to the dominance of the Shinawatra family in Thai politics, after Yingluck Shinawatra was banned… Continue reading Yingluck Shinawatra ordered to stand trial for negligence over rice subsidy scheme

Israel elections 2015 results: Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party wins surprise victory

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Benjamin Netanyahu has won a fourth term as Israel’s prime minister after his right-wing Likud Party has won a surprise victory in the country’s general elections. Exit polls had forecast a dead heat but with almost all votes counted, results give Likud a clear lead over its main rival, the centre-left Zionist Union. The outcome… Continue reading Israel elections 2015 results: Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party wins surprise victory

Israel elections 2015: Likud and Zionist Union are neck and neck

Israel’s ruling party Likud and the opposition Zionist Union are neck-and-neck in the country’s general election, according to exit polls. Estimates by two Israeli broadcasters gave both sides 27 seats each in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset. Both would need support from other parties to form a governing coalition. PM Benjamin Netanyahu described the vote… Continue reading Israel elections 2015: Likud and Zionist Union are neck and neck

Israel elections 2015: Close race between Benjamin Netanyahu’s party and Zionist Union

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Nearly six million Israelis are expected to polls to vote for a new parliament on March 17. The new elections are expected to be a close contest between PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s party and a centre-left alliance. The centre-left Zionist Union promises to repair relations with Palestinians and the international community. Benjamin Netanyahu, whose party has… Continue reading Israel elections 2015: Close race between Benjamin Netanyahu’s party and Zionist Union

Aide Nava: Mexican mayoral candidate found dead in Guerrero

The body of Mexican politician Aide Nava has been found in one of Mexico’s most violent states, Guerrero, where she had been standing for mayor in June’s elections. Aide Nava’s body was discovered on a road near the state capital, Chilpancingo. She had been kidnapped on March 10. A note near her body threatened the… Continue reading Aide Nava: Mexican mayoral candidate found dead in Guerrero

Greece threatens Germany over Nazi occupation debt

Greece has threatened to seize German property as compensation for a Nazi atrocity in World War II. Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos said he was ready to approve a Supreme Court ruling from 2000 backing payment to relatives of the 218 victims. The debt-ridden government is already calling for Germany to pay billions of euros in… Continue reading Greece threatens Germany over Nazi occupation debt

Simone Gbagbo trial: Ivory Coast’s former first lady sentenced to 20 years in jail

Ivory Coast’s former First Lady Simone Gbagbo has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found responsible for the 2010 post-election tragedy. Simone Gbagbo, 65, had been charged with undermining state security. Her husband, Ivory Coast’s former President Laurent Gbagbo, is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). More than 3,000 people… Continue reading Simone Gbagbo trial: Ivory Coast’s former first lady sentenced to 20 years in jail

Barack Obama emailed to Hillary Clinton’s private address, White House confirms

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President Barack Obama emailed with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton but was unaware of how her personal email address was set up, the White House said on March 9. Josh Earnest told reporters that Barack Obama emailed to Hillary Clinton’s private address and did not know how the secretary of State planned to comply… Continue reading Barack Obama emailed to Hillary Clinton’s private address, White House confirms

Grexit: Yanis Varoufakis raises possible referendum if bailout negotiations fail

Greece’s Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said it is possible that a referendum could be held if the eurozone rejects the country’s debt renegotiation plans. The comments came ahead of today’s Eurogroup meeting in Brussels, where Greece is to give detailed plans of its debt and growth terms. Greek PM Alexis Tsipras reacted by urging… Continue reading Grexit: Yanis Varoufakis raises possible referendum if bailout negotiations fail

Venezuela food shortage: Fingerprint scanners to be installed at grocery stores

In a move to reduce food hoarding and panic buying, Venezuela will install about 20,000 fingerprint scanners at grocery stores across the country. Over the last year there have been long queues at supermarkets because of widespread shortages of basic goods. President Nicolas Maduro said the shortages were due to manipulation of the food supply… Continue reading Venezuela food shortage: Fingerprint scanners to be installed at grocery stores