Politics

• Friday, October 1st 2021 - 08:41 UTC

  United States barely avert gov't shutdown, but only for a few months

  

  US President Joseph Biden Thursday signed into law the government funding bill, hours after Congress agreed on it in a last-minute rush to avoid a shutdown.

• Friday, October 1st 2021 - 07:06 UTC

  Barbados to quit British Commonwealth effective December 1

  

  The Parliament of Barbados has passed by 25 votes to none a Constitutional Amendment whereby the former British colony, which remained within the Commonwealth after its declaration of independence in 1966 will become a republic and thus remove Queen Elizabeth as head of state. The decision will become effective on Dec. 1.

• Thursday, September 30th 2021 - 19:47 UTC

  Germany and the status quo after “Mutti” Angela

  

  Last January Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) were ahead in the German opinion polls by fifteen points. She was stepping down after sixteen years as chancellor (prime minister), but she was still by far the most trusted politician in Germany. Indeed, she is universally known as “Mutti” (Mummy).

• Thursday, September 30th 2021 - 12:53 UTC

  Japan has a new leader, Fumio Kishida who pledges a “new Japanese capitalism”

  

  Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Wednesday voted for Fumio Kishida as their new leader who on October 4, parliament will appoint him as the country's prime minister. Kishida will become Japan's 100th prime minister since the country adopted a Cabinet system in 1885 and succeeds Yoshihide Suga, who did not run for reelection as party leader.

• Thursday, September 30th 2021 - 09:50 UTC

  Uruguayan gov't appoints preliminary team to advance on FTA with China

  

  Uruguay's Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo Tuesday announced the formation of a preliminary negotiating team to start talks with China over a future free trade agreement.

• Thursday, September 30th 2021 - 09:50 UTC

  Colombian President Duque replies to criticism from his predecessor regarding FARC peace deal

  

  Colombian President Iván Duque Wednesday told his predecessor Juan Manuel Santos he did not “engage in arguments with former presidents.”

• Thursday, September 30th 2021 - 09:46 UTC

  Paraguay and Chile closer to bilateral FTA after Piñera visit

  

  Chilean President Sebastián Piñera's visit to Asunción has left his country closer to a free trade agreement with Paraguay, it was announced.

• Thursday, September 30th 2021 - 09:20 UTC

  Fitch optimistic about Brazil, but fears fiscal sustainability is precarious

  

  Credit rating agency Fitch improved its prospects for Brazil's primary deficit and overall debt in 2021 but also pointed out several uncertainties among which sustainability of the fiscal front, possible political instability, and the approval of the new food subsidies to help the vulnerable population.

• Thursday, September 30th 2021 - 09:19 UTC

  Bolsonaro says Brazil is rich and “can look after the needy for a longer period”

  

  Brazil is a rich country and “can look after the needy for a longer period of time”, president Jair Bolsonaro said during a visit to the northern state of Bahía, a clear indication that the federal government is prepared to extend the emergency help payments which have been ongoing since the start of the pandemic.

• Thursday, September 30th 2021 - 09:06 UTC

  UK and France clash over fishing licenses in Jersey island's waters

  

  The United Kingdom and France are again clashing over post-Brexit fishing rights since the island of Jersey rejected 75 license requests from French fishermen. Paris announced retaliatory measures in fifteen days if the situation is not reversed.