Politics

Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:31 UTC
Hong Kong troubles ensure election victory for Taiwan's incumbent candidate

By Gwynne Dyer – “Over the past few years, China’s diplomatic offensives, military coercion, interference and infiltration have continued unabated,” said Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on New Year’s Day, as the Jan. 11 elections neared. “China’s objective is clear: to force Taiwan to compromise our sovereignty.” But every leader of her Democratic People’s Party (DPP) has always said that.
Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Killing of investigative journalist finally knocks out Malta Prime Minister accused of hampering the case

Malta's outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Friday (Jan 10) said he was “paying the highest political price” for failing to solve a journalist's killing, the investigation into which he has been accused of hampering.
Friday, January 10th 2020 - 14:28 UTC
Chinese fishing vessels withdraw from Indonesian EEZ, following standoff with Beijing

Dozens of Chinese vessels which were fishing in Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Natuna are leaving the area, the Indonesian military said on Thursday, after days of stand-off.
Friday, January 10th 2020 - 14:25 UTC
Colombia eradicated 100.000 hectares of coca in 2019, president Duque reports

Colombia, a top source of coca, the base ingredient in cocaine, eradicated more than 100,000 hectares of the crop last year, President Ivan Duque said on Thursday. The Andean country has come under repeated pressure from the United States, an important destination for cocaine shipments, to reduce coca cultivation, especially as crop figures shot up in recent years.
Friday, January 10th 2020 - 09:59 UTC
International Contact Group on Venezuela support Guaido's reelection, except Uruguay

A dozen countries working on ways to end Venezuela's crisis on Thursday gave their backing to opposition leader Juan Guaido as a parliamentary speaker, rejecting the claims of a rival.
Friday, January 10th 2020 - 09:58 UTC
Mexico grants political asylum to members of Ecuadorean opposition holed in its Quito embassy

Mexico granted political asylum on Thursday to four members of Ecuador's opposition holed up in its embassy in Quito since widespread social unrest in October, the foreign ministry said. The four lawmakers, including former Congress speaker Gabriela Rivadeneira, “took a commercial flight to Mexico” early Thursday, the ministry said in a statement.
Friday, January 10th 2020 - 09:57 UTC
“Brexit done”: UK lawmakers vote 330/231 to leave the European Union on January 31

Lawmakers approved legislation on Thursday which will allow Britain to leave the European Union on Jan 31 with an exit deal, ending more than three years of tumult over the terms of the unprecedented divorce.They voted 330 to 231 in favour of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, which implements an exit deal agreed with the EU last year.
Friday, January 10th 2020 - 09:57 UTC
Buenos Aires province US$ 227 million debt payment on Jan 26, a major test for creditors

Argentina's debt talks will face their first big test this month with a US$ 277-million payment due on a Buenos Aires provincial bond, seen as a gauge of how the indebted nation's new government will handle its creditors.
Friday, January 10th 2020 - 09:56 UTC
US changes policy, supports negotiations in Venezuela, a transitional government and fresh elections

The United States on Thursday threw its support behind negotiations in Venezuela, saying talks could establish a transitional government, lead to fresh elections and bring an end to the crisis.
Friday, January 10th 2020 - 09:54 UTC
US justifies at UN the killing of Iranian commander, but ready “to engage with Teheran in serious negotiations”

The United States told the United Nations on Wednesday that the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani last week was self-defense and vowed to take additional action “as necessary” in the Middle East to protect US personnel and interests.