Politics

• Sunday, September 8th 2013 - 00:33 UTC

  Conservative landslide victory in Australia: pledge to cut mining taxes and end to Asian boat-people

  

  Australia's opposition has crushed the governing Labour party in a general election that has returned the Liberal-National coalition to power for the first time in six years. The coalition was on course to win 88 seats, compared with 57 for Labour. Liberal leader Tony Abbott said he looked forward to forming a competent and trustworthy government.

• Sunday, September 8th 2013 - 00:29 UTC

  Paraguay insists it does recognize Venezuela as a full member of Mercosur

  

  Paraguay as full member and in full exercise of that condition does not recognize Venezuela as president or full member of the group, according to a communiqué sent to all of Paraguay’s ministries and overseas representations.

• Sunday, September 8th 2013 - 00:27 UTC

  ILO satisfied with G20 recognition that more must be done to reduce unemployment

  

  International Labour Organization Director-General Guy Ryder welcomed the recognition by G20 Leaders that more must be done to reduce unemployment, which is hitting record levels in many G20 countries, and to tackle the underemployment that is slowing poverty reduction in many developing and emerging economies.

• Sunday, September 8th 2013 - 00:13 UTC

  China’s 2014 growth target remains at 7%; this year could reach 7.5%

  

  China’s government may cut the country’s annual growth target to 7% next year, although the actual pace of expansion will be higher, said Fan Jianping, chief economist at a state research institute. The drop would be in line with the goal set in the country’s 2011-2015 five-year plan for annual average expansion of 7%.

• Saturday, September 7th 2013 - 18:26 UTC

  How the Madrid 2020 Olympic dream was shattered to pieces

  

  The Spanish delegation arrived in Buenos Aires as favourites to host the 2020 Olympics in Madrid. They had top credentials: the future King (Prince Felipe) himself a sports enthusiast; the least demanding and irritating budget, (based on Brazil’s ongoing experience) and ample public opinion support in Spain despite the economic situation and record unemployment.

• Saturday, September 7th 2013 - 17:34 UTC

  Oxford Dean of School of Government on a recruiting tour in Chile

  

  As part of the policy looking to build closer links between the UK and Chile, particularly in education, the inaugural Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford was involved in a round of conferences and contacts in the South American country.

• Saturday, September 7th 2013 - 17:29 UTC

  Rajoy says ‘foundation for dialogue’ on Gibraltar reached with PM Cameron

  

  Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy signalled on Friday that the ‘foundation for dialogue’ with the UK and Gibraltar had now been laid. Rajoy was speaking after two meetings with UK Prime Minister David Cameron on the margins of the G20 summit meeting in St Petersburg.

• Saturday, September 7th 2013 - 17:19 UTC

  Olympics return to Japan despite Fukushima; in final vote Tokyo defeated Istanbul

  

  Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympics on Saturday, capitalizing on its reputation as a “safe pair of hands” and defying concerns about the Fukushima nuclear crisis. Tokyo defeated Istanbul 60-36 in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul.

• Saturday, September 7th 2013 - 02:13 UTC

  Final presentation from three PMs to decide what city will host 2020 Olympics

  

  From the Fukushima nuclear leak to the war in Syria to Europe's economic crisis, the choice of the host city for the 2020 Olympics is fraught with risks. Picking the site with the least risks shapes up as the challenge for the International Olympic Committee on Saturday in a tight three-city contest that members say is too close to call.

• Saturday, September 7th 2013 - 02:08 UTC

  Depending on Obama Wednesday’s reply, Rousseff will decide on her visit to Washington

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, angered by a recent report that the US government spied on her communications, said on Friday that President Barack Obama had taken responsibility for what happened and that she may proceed with a planned visit to Washington next month.