Politics

• Tuesday, April 24th 2018 - 07:33 UTC

  Toronto: Driver of rental van runs down pedestrians killing ten and injuring 16

  

  The driver of a white rental van who is alleged to have “deliberately” run down pedestrians along a northern stretch of Yonge St. in the Canadian city of Toronto on Monday, killing 10 and injuring 16, has been identified as a 25-year-old man from Richmond Hill, a small town close to the metropolis.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2018 - 07:22 UTC

  IMF forecasts Argentina will grow 2% this year because of the drought and fiscal shortcomings

  

  The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook update for April 2018 has reduced its expectations of growth for Argentina this year, and its projected annual inflation rate largely exceeds the 15% goal set by president Mauricio the Macri administration in December 2017.

• 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 - 09:05 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.

• Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 08:42 UTC

  Corruption a threat to democracy, remarks top Brazilian military on Army Day

  

  Brazil's top army commander made another foray into political commentary, warning that corruption poses a threat to democracy in Latin America's biggest country. The comment by General Eduardo Villas Boas was his second high-profile remark on the state of Brazil's democracy this month, going against an unwritten rule that high-ranking military officers keep out of politics.

• Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 08:33 UTC

  President Trump expected to visit London in “late summer”

  

  United States president Donald Trump is planning on visiting the UK in the summer, it is reported. Mr. Trump has not visited the UK since he was elected to the White House in November 2016, with a potential visit to London to open the US Embassy in January not taking place.