Politics

Thursday, March 7th 2019 - 05:26 UTC
EU has urged to table fresh Brexit proposals within the next 48 hours

The UK has been urged to table fresh proposals within the next 48 hours to break the Brexit impasse. EU officials said they would work non-stop over the weekend if “acceptable” ideas were received by Friday to break the deadlock over the Irish backstop.
Wednesday, March 6th 2019 - 10:30 UTC
Guaido talks to public sector unions to stage strikes and held bring down Maduro

Opposition leader Juan Guaido held talks with Venezuela’s public sector unions on Tuesday about staging strikes to help bring down the government, as President Nicolas Maduro said a “crazed minority” bent on destabilizing the country would be defeated.
Wednesday, March 6th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
Theresa May's “Stronger Towns Fund” described by Labour as “Brexit bribery”

British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Monday, March 11 set out plans for a £1.6 billion (US$2.11 billion) fund to help to boost economic growth in Brexit-supporting communities with ministers denying it was a bribe to win support for her EU exit deal.
Wednesday, March 6th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
Northern Ireland warns of “grave” consequences of a no-deal Brexit

Northern Ireland's chief civil servant has warned a no-deal Brexit could have “grave” consequences for the region. In a letter to Stormont's political parties, David Sterling comes close to suggesting there may have to be some hardening of the Irish border.
Wednesday, March 6th 2019 - 08:20 UTC
China's National Congress told the economy faces a “tough struggle ahead”

China's number two leader Li Keqiang has warned the country faces “a tough struggle,” as he laid out plans to prop up the world's second-largest economy. Opening the annual session of China's parliament, he forecast a slower growth of 6% - 6.5% this year, down from a target of around 6.5% in 2018.
Wednesday, March 6th 2019 - 08:06 UTC
UK considering massive tariffs cut in the event of a no-deal Brexit

The UK government may cut trade tariffs on between 80% and 90% of goods in the event of a no-deal Brexit, reports say. Some tariffs would be scrapped completely, including those on car parts, and some agricultural produce. However, 10-20% of key products would continue to be protected by the current level of tariffs, including some textiles, cars, beef, lamb and dairy.
Tuesday, March 5th 2019 - 10:54 UTC
Falklands trip: “strongest experience of my life; it opened my head in several aspects”

“An incredible experience, the strongest of my life, it opened my head in several aspects”, said Nicolás Aguiar, the Argentine 24 year old international-relations student who spent a week in the Falkland Islands as a guest of the local government.
Tuesday, March 5th 2019 - 10:20 UTC
Google urges EU parliament to reject an overhaul of the online copyright law

Internet giant Google on Monday urged the European Parliament to resist approving a planned overhaul of the bloc's online copyright law that the company said would hurt Europe for “decades to come”. European lawmakers could vote as soon as next week on the landmark legislation that is intended to modernize copyright for the digital age but has set off a furious lobbying war in Brussels.
Tuesday, March 5th 2019 - 10:15 UTC
Busy month of overseas trips for Bolsonaro: United States, Chile and Israel

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will pay his first official visits to the United States, Chile and Israel this month, in a clear sign of the alliances the far-right leader wants to shore up, official sources said.
Tuesday, March 5th 2019 - 09:55 UTC
World markets fall as China cuts its economic growth target

Asian shares stepped back on Tuesday after China cut its economic growth target and pledged measures to support the economy amid growing challenges from rising debt and a dispute over trade and technology with the United States. Australian shares dropped 0.6% while South Korea's Kospi lost 0.5%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.2% and Japan's Nikkei dropped 0.3%.