In an unauthorized biography of Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, author Lindner Franco tells about lovers, bookmarks, money, business and power are the ingredients that make up the life of a woman of character, personality, and these same characteristics are repeated in men who choose politics. Lindner Franco’s Los Amores de Cristina (The Lovers… Continue reading Amado Boudou and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner romance rumors
Category: Economy & Politics
Economy and Politics news articles.
China: Wan Qingliang investigated for corruption
Guangzhou Communist Party leader Wan Qingliang is being investigated for corruption, a party disciplinary commission has said. Wan Qingliang, 50, is suspected of “serious disciplinary violations”, a term generally used to indicate corruption. He is regarded as the city’s top official, ranked above the mayor. Tens of thousands of officials have been arrested since President… Continue reading China: Wan Qingliang investigated for corruption
Thailand elections announced for 2015
Thailand’s military leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha has announced that new elections will only take place after October 2015. Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha made the announcement in a speech that an interim constitution would be adopted next month. A temporary cabinet would then govern until elections next year. The military seized power on May 22, saying it… Continue reading Thailand elections announced for 2015
Argentina: VP Amado Boudou charged with bribery
An Argentine judge has charged VP Amado Boudou in a corruption case. Amado Boudou is suspected of using his influence when he was economy minister to ensure that a contract to print Argentina’s currency was awarded to a company he allegedly controlled. Earlier this month, the vice-president was questioned for more than seven hours by… Continue reading Argentina: VP Amado Boudou charged with bribery
EU signs partnership agreements with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia
Ex-USSR states Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have signed partnership agreements with the EU, in a move strongly opposed by Russia. The pact – which would bind the three countries more closely to the West both economically and politically – is at the heart of the crisis in Ukraine. Russia said that while the signing of… Continue reading EU signs partnership agreements with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia
EU Summit 2014: Jean-Claude Juncker expected to be confirmed as next president of European Commission
EU Summit in Brussels is expected to confirm former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission. The move comes despite strong opposition from the UK. UK Prime Minister David Cameron believes Jean-Claude Juncker is too much in favor of closer political union and might block EU reform. He also objects… Continue reading EU Summit 2014: Jean-Claude Juncker expected to be confirmed as next president of European Commission
Japan inflation rate hits 32-year high in May 2014
Japan’s inflation rose at an annual rate of 3.4% in May 2014, the fastest pace in 32 years, as the effect of the sales tax hike started to be felt. Japan raised its sales tax rate from 5% to 8% on April 1. The price growth in May follows a 3.2% jump in April and… Continue reading Japan inflation rate hits 32-year high in May 2014
US GDP in surprise slump in Q1 2014
According to latest figures, the US economy suffered its worst performance for five years in Q1 2014. The US economy shrank at an annualized rate of 2.9% in Q1 2014, the third estimate from the US Commerce Department showed. This was worse than the previous estimate of a 1% contraction, and also worse than economists’… Continue reading US GDP in surprise slump in Q1 2014
Costa Rica: Luis Guillermo Solis bans cult of personality
Costa Rica’s newly elected President Luis Guillermo Solis has passed a decree banning his name being put on plaques at public works. Luis Guillermo Solis, who was sworn in last month, also said he did not want his portrait hung in public offices, which was until now a common practice. “The worship of the image… Continue reading Costa Rica: Luis Guillermo Solis bans cult of personality
Narendra Modi overtakes White House on Twitter
India’s new PM Narendra Modi has overtaken the White House on Twitter, a study of political use of the social network has found. Narendra Modi’s account @NarendraModi has 4.99 million followers, ahead of the @WhiteHouse account which has 4.98 million followers. His huge victory in the recent general election was partly credited to a well-organized… Continue reading Narendra Modi overtakes White House on Twitter
Poland leaked tapes: PM Donald Tusk wins parliamentary vote of confidence
Donald Tusk’s government has won a parliamentary vote of confidence sparked by a scandal over leaked tapes of Polish senior officials. PM Donald Tusk had told parliament that without a pledge of majority support he would not be able to effectively represent Poland in the EU. The apparently secret recordings have been released by Wprost… Continue reading Poland leaked tapes: PM Donald Tusk wins parliamentary vote of confidence
John Boehner sues Barack Obama over executive actions
House Speaker John Boehner has confirmed he will file a lawsuit against the Obama administration for its use of executive actions to change laws. John Boehner said: “I believe the President is not faithfully executing the laws of our country, and on behalf of the institution and our constitution standing up and fighting for this… Continue reading John Boehner sues Barack Obama over executive actions
Thad Cochran beats Chris McDaniel in Mississippi primary
Republican Senator Thad Cochran has narrowly beaten Tea Party candidate Chris McDaniel in a high-profile primary in Mississippi. Thad Cochran, a six-term senator seeking re-election, had the backing of establishment Republicans but was forced into a run-off by Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel. The race was seen as a crucial test of the direction of… Continue reading Thad Cochran beats Chris McDaniel in Mississippi primary
Michelle Obama denies she may run for office after White House
First lady Michelle Obama has denied she may run for office after her family leaves the White House. In an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts on Monday, Michelle Obama was asked if she might enter politics after President Barack Obama leaves office. The first lady said “definitely” not. Instead, Michelle Obama will opt to pursue… Continue reading Michelle Obama denies she may run for office after White House
Afghanistan 2014: Top election official resigns over fraud claims
Senior Afghan election official Zia ul-Haq Amarkhail at the centre of fraud claims in the presidential run-off vote has resigned. Zia ul-Haq Amarkhail said he was stepping down “for the sake of national unity”, denying allegations of ballot box-stuffing earlier this month. His resignation comes after audio tapes were released allegedly revealing that Zia ul-Haq… Continue reading Afghanistan 2014: Top election official resigns over fraud claims
Wprost leak: Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski criticizes Poland’s ties with US
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called his country’s ties with the US “worthless”, Wprost news magazine reports, giving excerpts of a secretly recorded conversation. Wprost magazine is already at the centre of another scandal over leaked tapes involving the Polish government. Radek Sikorski called Poland’s stance towards the US “downright harmful because it creates a… Continue reading Wprost leak: Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski criticizes Poland’s ties with US
Afghanistan elections 2014: Vote fraud audio tapes emerge
Explosive audio tapes released in Afghanistan allegedly reveal a senior election official directing that ballot boxes be stuffed in the crucial presidential run-off. The recordings, which cannot be independently verified, are believed to have come from the security services. They have been placed in the public domain by the Abdullah Abdullah camp who refuse to… Continue reading Afghanistan elections 2014: Vote fraud audio tapes emerge
Brazil elections 2014: Dilma Rousseff endorsed to run for re-election in October
Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has been officially endorsed by the governing Workers Party to run for re-election in October. Speaking to party delegates in Brasilia, Dilma Rousseff promised to boost social policies that have lifted millions of people out of poverty. The party has been in power since 2003. Dilma Rousseff – Brazil’s first woman… Continue reading Brazil elections 2014: Dilma Rousseff endorsed to run for re-election in October
House of Representatives approves NSA snooping limits
The House of Representatives has passed legislation that would curb electronic snooping. The measure would bar the National Security Agency (NSA) from collecting Americans’ personal online information without a warrant. It was added on Thursday night to a $570 billion defense spending bill. The move follows revelations the NSA mass harvested data on telephone calls… Continue reading House of Representatives approves NSA snooping limits
Poland leaked recordings: Justice Minister Marek Biernacki criticizes Wprost raid
Polish Justice Minister Marek Biernacki has said a controversial raid to find leaked tapes that embarrassed the government “should have never taken place”. Marek Biernacki said the raid on the offices of news magazine Wprost had raised “legitimate concerns”. Wprost published an alleged private conversation in which the head of Poland’s central bank discusses the… Continue reading Poland leaked recordings: Justice Minister Marek Biernacki criticizes Wprost raid
China: New Citizens’ Movement activists jailed for urging officials to disclose wealth
Three activists of China’s anti-corruption group – New Citizens’ Movement – have been given lengthy jail terms for urging officials to disclose wealth. Wei Zhongping and Liu Ping, associated with the New Citizens’ Movement, were given six-and-a-half years in jail. A third activist, Li Sihua, received a shorter sentence. Rights group Amnesty International said the… Continue reading China: New Citizens’ Movement activists jailed for urging officials to disclose wealth
King Juan Carlos of Spain signs abdication bill
King Juan Carlos of Spain signed the bill of his abdication in favor of his son, Crown Prince Felipe. King Juan Carlos, 76, signed the bill at a ceremony in the Royal Palace in Madrid, which was attended by only 160 guests. At midnight local time, Crown Prince Felipe, 46, will become king although the… Continue reading King Juan Carlos of Spain signs abdication bill
Zach Dasher: Duck Dynasty cousin to run for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District
Calhoun businessman Zach Dasher, a cousin of Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson, announced Monday he will run for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District. The seat is currently held by embattled GOP Rep. Vance McAllister, who won the district in a special election last November – largely thanks to the local reality television superstar Willie Robertson’s support.… Continue reading Zach Dasher: Duck Dynasty cousin to run for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District
Afghanistan elections 2014: Abdullah Abdullah demands halt to vote-counting
Afghanistan’s presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah has demanded an immediate halt to vote-counting over allegations of widespread fraud. Ballot boxes had been stuffed and the whole system was working to benefit his rival Ashraf Ghani, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said. He said he had lost trust in election officials, adding: “We have asked our monitors to leave… Continue reading Afghanistan elections 2014: Abdullah Abdullah demands halt to vote-counting
Colombia elections 2014: Juan Manuel Santos wins new four-year term
Juan Manuel Santos has been re-elected as Colombia’s president in the most dramatic presidential contest in years. Juan Manuel Santos won 51% of votes and saw off his right-wing challenger Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, who had 45%. Correspondents say the victory will be seen as an endorsement of the president’s ongoing peace talks with the leftist… Continue reading Colombia elections 2014: Juan Manuel Santos wins new four-year term