Economy & Politics
US Congress passes deal to avert fiscal cliff and Barack Obama heads back to restart Hawaii vacation
President Barack Obama has hailed a deal reached to stave off a "fiscal cliff" of drastic taxation and spending measures as "just one step...
Francois Hollande New Year speech: France’s president vows to revive supertax
French President Francois Hollande says he still plans to raise the top rate of income tax after his 75% plan was struck down on...
US Senate approves fiscal cliff bill
The US Senate has decided to approve a deal to avert general tax hikes and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff". The bill, which...
Angela Merkel warns Germans of tough economic times ahead in her New Year message
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that her country’s economic climate in 2013 will be "even more difficult". In her New Year message, Angela Merkel...
US Congress leaders have one more day to reach fiscal cliff deal
US Congressional leaders have one more day to stop the threat of steep tax rises and spending cuts, known as the "fiscal cliff", after...
Bolivia brings two Spanish-owned electricity supply companies under state control
Bolivia has decided to bring two Spanish-owned electricity supply companies under state control. President Evo Morales accused the subsidiaries of the Spanish company, Iberdrola, of...
Barack Obama makes no new offer on fiscal cliff
President Barack Obama has used a last-ditch White House meeting to urge Congress to back an interim plan to avoid the "fiscal cliff", reports...
French 75% tax rate struck down by constitutional council
France's constitutional council has struck down a top income tax rate of 75% introduced by Socialist President Francois Hollande. Raising taxes for those earning more...
Mario Monti to lead Italian coalition of centre parties
Outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti is to lead a coalition of centre parties going into Italy's parliamentary election in February. Speaking to reporters after four hours of...
South Korea cuts growth forecast for 2012 and 2013
South Korea has decided to cut its growth forecast for this year and for 2013, underlining the effect of a slowdown in its key...
Shinzo Abe voted in as Japan’s prime minister for second time
Former Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been voted in as prime minister again by MPs, after his party's poll victory earlier this month. Shinzo...
Italian parliament dissolved following Prime Minister Mario Monti’s resignation
Italian parliament has been dissolved by President Giorgio Napolitano following caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti's resignation. The move paves the way for elections, now confirmed...
Mario Monti resigns as Italy’s prime minister
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has resigned today, keeping a promise to step down after the passing of his budget by parliament. MPs earlier passed...
Republicans cancel vote on John Boehner’s fiscal cliff “Plan B”
Republicans have cancelled a tax vote in the US Congress, less than two weeks before a deadline for budget reform. Republican House speaker John Boehner...
Park Geun-hye becomes South Korea’s first female president
Park Geun-hye, the daughter of former dictator Park Chung-hee, defeated her liberal rival Moon Jae-in in South Korea’s presidential election. Park Geun-hye will be South...
South Korea presidential election: Park-Geun-hye seeks to become first female president
Millions of South Koreans have cast ballots in a presidential election seen as too close to call. Park Geun-hye of the governing Saenuri party is...
S&P increases Greece’s rating from selective default to B-minus
Standard and Poor's has raised the credit rating of Greece's sovereign debt by six levels, praising the "strong determination" of fellow European countries to...
Jacob Zuma re-elected as African National Congress leader
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has been re-elected as leader of country’s governing African National Congress. Jacob Zuma, 70, received an overwhelming majority of votes...
South Africa’s ANC meets in Manguang to elect its next leader
South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) is holding its party congress at which members will vote for its next leader. President Jacob Zuma is...
Japan votes in general election
People are voting in a general election in Japan, where former leader Shinzo Abe is challenging the current prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda. Shinzo Abe's Liberal...
Avigdor Lieberman, Israeli Foreign Minister, resigns after being charged with breach of trust
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has been forced to resign after prosecutors decided to charge him with breach of trust. Avigdor Lieberman has also resigned...
Ukraine’s Parliament brawl while Femen protest against corruption staged outside
Ukrainian parliament’s new session got off to a dramatic start with MPs brawling on the floor of the chamber while a Femen protest against...
Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Thai PM, charged with murder
Abhisit Vejjajiva, the former Thai prime minister, has been charged with murder over the death of a taxi driver shot by soldiers during political...
Eurozone agrees strict bank rules
European finance ministers have reached a deal on rules for supervising eurozone banks, ahead of a new EU summit. Around 200 of the biggest banks...
Italian stocks fall sharply after Mario Monti plans to resign
Italian stocks have fallen sharply, reacting to news that Prime Minister Mario Monti plans to resign and former premier Silvio Berlusconi is to run...
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