Stories for April 23rd 2018

Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:52 UTC
Ruling party wins election in Paraguay, but with surprise performance of the opposition

Paraguay's Mario Abdo Benitez, “Marito”, who represents the country's long-dominant Colorado Party, was elected as president on Sunday, landing the top job in the country with the smallest economy in Mercosur. The US-educated son of a senior aide to the country's late dictator, Abdo Benitez won slightly more than 46% of the vote, with his centrist opponent Efrain Alegre taking almost 43% in a race that was far closer than expected.
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:49 UTC
Nicaragua's Ortega cancels social security reform following riots and death of 26 killed by police

Nicaragua's president on Sunday withdrew changes to the social security system that had triggered several days of deadly protests and looting. President Daniel Ortega said in a message to the nation late Sunday that the National Social Security Institute's board of directors had canceled the changes that were implemented April 16.
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:35 UTC
“Involuntary exodus” is forcing 10% of Venezuelan population to abandon their country

The Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro has sent a message to the Venezuelan people that are experiencing an involuntary exodus, forced upon them by the growing economic and institutional degradation of the country. By the end of this year it is estimated that over 10% of the Venezuela population will have left the country.
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:25 UTC
British Academics delivered counterterrorism course in Uruguay

Two instructors from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst gave a course on counterterrorism from 9-13 April at the Uruguayan Naval War College in Montevideo. The purpose of the course was to provide an introduction to the key principles of the fight against terorrism and its practical application through the British approach and the study of a wide range of contemporary cases.
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:22 UTC
China and South Korea seek trade agreements with Mercosur

China and South Korea are seeking to establish free trade agreements with Mercosur in a strategic response to Washington's increasingly protectionist stance. The East Asian initiatives have resonated well in a region where Washington is keeping its distance. U.S. President Donald Trump has not visited a single Latin American country since taking office in January 2017, and chose not to attend the Summit of the Americas, which recently concluded in Peru.
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:10 UTC
English Language Days at the UN

English Language Day at the UN is celebrated on 23 April, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. The Day is the result of a 2010 initiative by the Department of Public Information, establishing language days for each of the Organization's six official languages. The purpose of the UN's language days is to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:08 UTC
EU and Mexico reach new trade agreement: tariff cuts for European cheese and pork

The European Union and Mexico reached an agreement on Saturday on a new free trade deal, a coup for both parties in the face of increased protectionism from the United States under President Donald Trump. Since its plans for a trade alliance with the United States were frozen after Trump's election victory, the EU has focused instead on trying to champion open markets and seal accords with other like-minded countries.
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:05 UTC
Welsh Labour needs a “radical” new leader: party has been in office since the creation of the Assembly

The next Welsh Labour leader must “shake-up” the party after almost two decades in power, a former Welsh secretary has said. Carwyn Jones is to step down as the party's leader and first minister in the autumn.
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 08:58 UTC
Customs union debate in Commons on Thursday; Lords voted in support

The UK government has restated its commitment to leaving the EU's custom union - ahead of a symbolic vote on the issue this week. Last Wednesday, the government suffered defeat on the EU Withdrawal Bill in the House of Lords - when peers voted in favor of staying in the customs union. As a result, MPs will get a chance to debate the proposal on Thursday..
Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 08:51 UTC
Woman power in Germany: the two most important leaders are female

Germany's junior partner in the ruling coalition, the Social Democrats (SPD), has elected its first female leader in the party's 154-year history. Former Labour Minister Andrea Nahles was chosen to replace Martin Schulz, who resigned after the SPD's worst result since 1933 in last year's polls.