International

• Tuesday, October 29th 2019 - 12:12 UTC

  World Medical Association urges all governments to introduce sugar tax

  

  In a new policy statement, the WMA calls on all national governments to reduce the affordability of added sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages through a tax on sugar. The tax revenue collected should then be used for health promotion programs aimed at reducing obesity and non-communicable diseases.

• Tuesday, October 29th 2019 - 08:19 UTC

  Brexit 31 October commemorative coins to be “recycled”

  

  Commemorative coins minted to mark Brexit on 31 October will be “recycled” after the UK's exit from the EU was delayed by a further three months. The Royal Mint had been asked to produce new 50p pieces featuring the UK's scheduled departure date.

• Tuesday, October 29th 2019 - 08:09 UTC

  Bolsonaro in Arab countries: signs agreements in Abu Dhabi and will address economic forum in Riyadh

  

  The United Arab Emirates and Brazil signed several agreements on Sunday during President Jair Bolsonaro's visit to Abu Dhabi, which marks his first official trip to the Arab world. He arrived in the UAE on Saturday and is set to head to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, where he will take part in the Future Investment Initiative.

• Tuesday, October 29th 2019 - 08:04 UTC

  Germany and France laud outgoing ECB president Dragui for defending “the European dream”

  

  French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday lauded Mario Draghi for defending “the European dream” in the face of opposition as he handed over a divided ECB to Christine Lagarde.

• Tuesday, October 29th 2019 - 07:51 UTC

  “VIP packages to Britain” for illegal migrants include fake passport and lawyer

  

  For up to US$50,000, Vietnamese migrants can get the “VIP package” to Britain - flight, a fake passport and even a lawyer - illegal, but billed as safer than cheaper overland routes by people smugglers who provide a menu of options for those trying to reach the UK.

• Tuesday, October 29th 2019 - 07:29 UTC

  IMF and US congratulate president elect Fernandez

  

  International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva on Monday congratulated Alberto Fernandez, winner of Argentina's presidential elections, and vowed to work with his government to stabilize the economy.

• Tuesday, October 29th 2019 - 07:04 UTC

  EU agrees to a three month Brexit; PM Johnson insists with a December election

  

  The European Union agreed to a Brexit delay of up to three months on Monday, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would push on with his bid to end Britain's political paralysis with an election on Dec 12.

• Monday, October 28th 2019 - 09:11 UTC

  UK Parliament to vote on government's call for an early election 12 December

  

  UK members of Parliament are due to vote this Monday on the government's call to have an election on 12 December. Boris Johnson said if the motion was approved, his Brexit bill would resume its progress through Parliament until that is dissolved on 6 November.

• Monday, October 28th 2019 - 09:07 UTC

  Counter march with Catalonian and Spanish flags: “Enough! streets belong to everyone”

  

  Tens of thousands of people marched on Sunday for Spanish unity, staging a counter-rally in Barcelona a day after 300,000 Catalan separatists held a protest over the jailing of nine regional leaders.

• Monday, October 28th 2019 - 06:16 UTC

  Belgium has its first woman prime minister

  

  Belgian Budget Minister Sophie Wilmes has been chosen as the country's new caretaker prime minister - a first for a woman, the current premier Charles Michel said on Saturday