German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged her party to celebrate “a super result” after exit polls suggested CDU was set to win a third term. Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats took about 42% of the vote, according to exit polls. But Angela Merkel’s preferred coalition is at risk, as her Free Democrat partners appear not have… Continue reading Germany elections 2013: Angela Merkel’s CDU celebrates victory
Category: Economy & Politics
Economy and Politics news articles.
Sri Lanka elections 2013: Tamil party wins key vote in north
Tamil party has won Sri Lanka’s first elections for a semi-autonomous council in the island’s north after decades of ethnic war, official results show. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) won 30 seats in the 38-member council following Saturday’s Northern Provincial Council elections. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s coalition won seven of the other seats. The vote took… Continue reading Sri Lanka elections 2013: Tamil party wins key vote in north
Germany elections 2013: Polls open as Europe awaits vote result
Polls have opened in Germany with Chancellor Angela Merkel vying for a third term in charge of Europe’s most powerful economy. Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats may take the largest number of seats in parliament, or Bundestag, according to latest polls. But Angela Merkel’s coalition partners, the Free Democrats, may not gain the 5% vote share… Continue reading Germany elections 2013: Polls open as Europe awaits vote result
Bo Xilai sentenced to life in prison for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power
Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been found guilty of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power and sentenced to life imprisonment having the right to appeal. Bo Xilai had denied all the charges against him in a fiery defense at his trial. The former party chief of Chongqing was removed from office last year amid a… Continue reading Bo Xilai sentenced to life in prison for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power
Germany elections 2013: CDU and SDP in last push for votes
Germany’s rival parties, CDU and SDP, are in their final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Polls suggest Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will win the biggest share of the vote. But her current coalition partners, the Free Democrats, may not pass the 5% threshold for winning seats in parliament. If… Continue reading Germany elections 2013: CDU and SDP in last push for votes
Angela Merkel in profile
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is an unusually private and reticent politician – there is no exhibitionism and grandstanding. Even for Germans, Angela Merkel is a hard woman to know. Angela Dorothea Kasner was born on July 17, 1954, in Hamburg, West Germany. Her father Horst Kasner, a Lutheran pastor, moved the family to Templin, East… Continue reading Angela Merkel in profile
House of Representatives votes to cut nearly $4 billion from food stamp funding
The House of Representatives voted to cut nearly $4 billion from food stamp funding even after Democrat Rep. Jackie Speier used some congressional dinner expenses as ways to try to shame them into supporting the funding. The 217-210 vote on Thursday was a win for conservatives and it was approved even though Democrats were united… Continue reading House of Representatives votes to cut nearly $4 billion from food stamp funding
Australia: Tony Abbott sworn in as prime minister
Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia’s prime minister after his Liberal-National coalition ended six years of Labor government. Tony Abbott, 55, took the oath at Government House in Canberra in front of Governor-General Quentin Bryce. His conservative coalition won a comfortable lower house majority in the 7 September polls. It plans to scrap… Continue reading Australia: Tony Abbott sworn in as prime minister
Australia: Tony Abbott unveils new cabinet
Australia’s newly elected Prime Minister Tony Abbott has unveiled his new cabinet, calling it a highly experienced line-up. The appointments broadly followed the line up while in opposition, but included a major promotion for finance. As expected Julie Bishop became foreign minister – the only woman to be named to Tony Abbott’s frontbench. Tony Abbott… Continue reading Australia: Tony Abbott unveils new cabinet
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner criticizes Argentine elite
Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has criticized her country’s elite for trying to create a negative image of her government. “These small sectors have done well through history, they have kept the lion’s share,” Cristina Fernandez said in an interview with state television. The president added that most Argentines are better off now than… Continue reading Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner criticizes Argentine elite
Poland: Mass anti-government rally against labor law changes
Tens of thousands of protesters have marched through Warsaw in the last of four days of Polish protests against proposed labor law changes. The protesters demanded a higher minimum wage, greater job security and the repeal of a law rai sing the retirement age to 67. Many carried banners calling for Prime Minister Donald Tusk… Continue reading Poland: Mass anti-government rally against labor law changes
Alexei Navalny launches election fraud lawsuits against Sergei Sobyanin
Alexei Navalny has launched hundreds of lawsuits contesting Sergei Sobyanin’s victory in Moscow mayoral election. Alexei Navalny delivered boxes full of complaints of fraud to Moscow city court, and began filing 951 lawsuits with 36 district courts. The city court refused his request to stop Sergei Sobyanin’s inauguration on Thursday night. The courts could take… Continue reading Alexei Navalny launches election fraud lawsuits against Sergei Sobyanin
Muhammad Yunus: Bangladeshi Nobel laureate faces tax probe
Bangladeshi government has said it will take legal action against Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus over what it says are tax irregularities. The allegations date back to the period when Muhammad Yunus, 73, was the managing director of the micro-finance organization, the Grameen Bank. Bangladesh’s central bank removed the economist from his position two years ago,… Continue reading Muhammad Yunus: Bangladeshi Nobel laureate faces tax probe
Sergei Sobyanin wins Moscow mayor election
Vladimir Putin’s ally Sergei Sobyanin has won the election for mayor of Moscow, Russian election officials have announced. Sergei Sobyanin secured 51.3% – just above the 50% threshold needed to avoid a second-round ballot. His main rival, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, polled 27.2%. Alexei Navalny called for a run-off and refused to recognize the results,… Continue reading Sergei Sobyanin wins Moscow mayor election
Australia elections: Opposition coalition ahead of ruling Labor party in opinion polls
Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have hit the Australian election campaign trail in a final push for votes ahead of Saturday’s poll. Opinion polls place the opposition coalition, led by Tony Abbott, ahead of the ruling Labor party. But PM Kevin Rudd appealed to undecided voters, saying they could close the gap. The economy, asylum… Continue reading Australia elections: Opposition coalition ahead of ruling Labor party in opinion polls
Indian rupee and stocks jump as Raghuram Rajan boosts confidence
Indian rupee and stocks have jumped a day after the country’s new central bank chief Raghuram Rajan took charge and promised tough action to boost growth. The Indian currency, one of the world’s worst performers this year, rose 2.3% against the US dollar. India’s main stock index, the Sensex, rose 2.3% in early trade on… Continue reading Indian rupee and stocks jump as Raghuram Rajan boosts confidence
Australia economic growth beats forecast in Q2 2013
Australia has reported better-than-forecast growth numbers for Q2 2013, boosted by gains in consumer spending. Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 2.6% during the quarter, from a year earlier. Compared with the previous quarter, growth was 0.6%. Most forecasts were for an annual growth closer to 2.5%. Analysts said the data was likely to see… Continue reading Australia economic growth beats forecast in Q2 2013
John McCain caught playing poker on iPhone during Senate hearing on Syria action
Arizona Republican Senator John McCain was caught playing poker on his iPhone while America’s most senior foreign policy and military officials made President Barack Obama’s case for using military force against the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. A Washington Post photographer snapped an over-the-shoulder picture of John McCain casually betting play money on his… Continue reading John McCain caught playing poker on iPhone during Senate hearing on Syria action
Jiang Jiemin under investigation over corruption in China
China has announced a corruption investigation into Jiang Jiemin, the head of the commission that oversees state-owned companies. The supervision ministry said Jiang Jiemin was suspected of a “serious violation of discipline”. The term is used to refer to corruption by managers of state companies. President Xi Jinping has vowed to eradicate corruption in China,… Continue reading Jiang Jiemin under investigation over corruption in China
German election: Angela Merkel faces rival Peer Steinbrueck in TV debate
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her poll rival, centre-left Peer Steinbrueck, are due to take part in their only televised election debate. The event is seen as the Social Democrat (SPD) leader’s biggest chance to claw back Angela Merkel’s lead in the opinion polls before this month’s vote. Although Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc is expected… Continue reading German election: Angela Merkel faces rival Peer Steinbrueck in TV debate
India’s economy shows continuing slowdown
According to Indian government’s latest figures, the country’s economy continues to slowdown in Q2 2013. For the April-to-June quarter, India’s economy grew at a rate of 4.4%, compared with the same period in the previous year. It was a weaker performance than most economists had been expecting and was a slowdown from the first three… Continue reading India’s economy shows continuing slowdown
US economic growth above estimates in Q2 2013
The US economy grew at an annualized pace of 2.5% in Q2 2013, the Commerce Department said in revised figures. That was more than double the pace recorded in the previous three months, and above estimates of 2.2%. The rise, helped by an increase in exports, is a further sign that the economy may be… Continue reading US economic growth above estimates in Q2 2013
India’s Food Security Bill passed by lower house
The controversial Indian Food Security Bill that aims to provide subsidized food to two-thirds of the population has been passed by the lower house. Under the plan, which still needs to be approved by the upper house, 800 million poor people would receive 11 lbs of cheap grain every month. Its backers argue it is… Continue reading India’s Food Security Bill passed by lower house
Greece may need a third bailout package
Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras has said the country may need a third bailout but would not accept new austerity measures. Yannis Stournaras said: “If there is need for further support to Greece, it will be in the order of about 10 billion euros [$13.4 billion], or much smaller than the previous programmes.” Greece has… Continue reading Greece may need a third bailout package
Tony Abbott launches campaign for Australia election
Tony Abbott, the favorite to win next month’s Australian general election, has launched his campaign. The conservative opposition leader has vowed to control government spending and build a stronger economy by putting “bulldozers on the ground and cranes into our skies”. Opinion polls show Tony Abbott is poised to end six years of Labor rule.… Continue reading Tony Abbott launches campaign for Australia election