Politics

• Thursday, April 28th 2016 - 07:27 UTC

  Amnesty said killings in Rio's favelas have increased alarmingly ahead of Olympics

  

  Amnesty International said on Wednesday that residents of Olympic host Rio de Janeiro's slum favelas are “living in terror” after 11 people were killed in police shootings in the past month. The rights group said at least 307 people were killed by police in the city last year and called on Brazilian authorities to take action in the 100 days ahead of the start of the Rio Games on August 5.

• Thursday, April 28th 2016 - 07:22 UTC

  Fed leaves rates unchanged; expectations over an increase move to June

  

  The U.S. Federal Reserve did what many expected on Wednesday as it left its key interest rate range unchanged. The central bank maintained its overnight lending rate for banks at a target range of between 0.25 and 0.50% where it has been since it was boosted from near zero back in December. Expectations now have moved to the two-day meeting on 14/15 June.

• Thursday, April 28th 2016 - 07:11 UTC

  Spain remains ungovernable: elections for new government on June 26

  

  Spain will hold a repeat of national elections in June following the failure of a last-ditch effort by King Felipe VI to prod bickering Spanish politicians to form a new government. The King chose not to ask any candidates he interviewed this week to try to form a government and break a stalemate that has left Spain with a caretaker government in the wake of inconclusive elections in December.

• Thursday, April 28th 2016 - 06:49 UTC

  Foreign Secretary Hammond in Colombia to highlight UK's support for the peace process

  

  UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has arrived in Colombia to highlight the UK’s support for the country’s peace process and fight against narcotics during visits to Bogota and Cartagena.

• Thursday, April 28th 2016 - 06:30 UTC

  Chile is a 'natural partner' for London and the UK, said Lord Mayor

  

  The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Jeffrey Mountevans, is leading a business delegation to Chile focused on strengthening the UK’s relationship with Chile and ensure that London and the UK remain its partner of choice for financial and professional services.

• Thursday, April 28th 2016 - 06:24 UTC

  OAS will lead independent investigation into Belize-Guatemala border incident

  

  The Organization of American States (OAS) will conduct, at the request of the governments of Belize and Guatemala, an independent investigation of the April 20 border incident that led to the death of the Guatemalan minor Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano and in which his father and brother were wounded.

• Wednesday, April 27th 2016 - 11:03 UTC

  Kuczynski leads opinion polls for the June 5 Peruvian presidential runoff

  

  Former World Bank economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski continues to hold his lead over conservative Keiko Fujimori ahead of the June 5 runoff presidential election. Kuczynski, also known by his initials PPK, is projected to win with 43% of the vote ahead of Fujimori's 39%, according to the latest Ipsos public opinion poll conducted between April 20 and 22.

• Wednesday, April 27th 2016 - 10:51 UTC

  In a strategic decision, Australia opts for French submarines, sinks Japanese bid

  

  France has beaten Japan and Germany to win a US$ 43 billion deal to build a fleet of 12 submarines for Australia, one of the world's most lucrative defense contracts, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, April 27th 2016 - 10:44 UTC

  Paul Singer praises Macri but warns about negative impact from Collective Action Clauses

  

  Financier Paul Singer again took to the US media to celebrate Argentine President Mauricio Macri’s decision to settle with the so-called “speculative” creditors, including Singer’s own Elliott Management, with an article in the Wall Street Journal heaping praise on his business-friendly approach and willingness to negotiate with the holdouts.

• Wednesday, April 27th 2016 - 10:27 UTC

  Police found responsible for Britain's worst sporting disaster: “Justice for the 96”, Hillsborough 1989

  

  Police were responsible for the deaths of 96 Liverpool football fans in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium crush, a jury concluded this week after two years of hearings into Britain's worst sporting disaster.