Politics

China’s HK liaision says city will stabilise

Bloomberg China’s new top official in Hong Kong said he is certain the city will stabilise following months of political unrest, backing leader Carrie Lam and her administration in his first public comments since being appointed. “I am fully confident about this,” Luo Huining, the new director of the Hong Kong Liaison office, said at a media briefing. “Everyone fervently ...

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Zoran Milanovic wins Croatia presidential vote

Bloomberg Croatians shot down President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic’s bid for a second term, electing the prime minister who led the nation into the European Union to rebalance politics in the bloc’s newest member. Zoran Milanovic, who ran the Adriatic state’s government from 2011 to 2015, won 52.7% of votes in the presidential runoff. Kitarovic, a former NATO executive whose popularity ...

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US vows to hit 52 sites if Tehran retaliates over killing of general

Bloomberg President Donald Trump said the US has identified 52 Iranian sites it would hit if Tehran retaliates against the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, stepping back from more conciliatory comments he made after the drone strike on the Islamic Republic’s most powerful military commander. Trump’s tough talk followed Tehran’s threat of a protracted response, and eclipsed his assertion ...

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Joe Biden defends policy record amid Trump’s Iran threats

Bloomberg Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden defended his foreign policy record as he campaigns on the argument that he’s best suited to be commander-in-chief amid President Donald Trump’s escalating threats against Iran. “It’s not to suggest I haven’t made mistakes in my career but I would put my record against anyone in public life in terms of foreign policy,” Biden ...

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Nigeria faces challenges of politicking, debt

Bloomberg Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is due to complete his second and final four-year term in 2023 and the battle over who will succeed him is already heating up, placing further pressure on an already strained economy. Buhari has thus far shied away from endorsing his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, for the position, twice slighting him by opting not to transfer ...

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Spain’s Sanchez on track to govern as key vote looms

Bloomberg Spain’s acting PM  Pedro Sanchez failed to win enough support in a first parliamentary vote on Sunday, part of a process that should still allow him to form a government with help from Catalan separatists in 48 hours. Sanchez, 47, needs to win the endorsement of the 350-seat chamber in a process that will drag out through Tuesday. Sanchez ...

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Starmer enters race to succeed Corbyn as Labour leader

Bloomberg The Labour Party’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said he’s running to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader following its worst electoral defeat since 1935. Starmer, 57, is the early front-runner according to a YouGov poll of Labour party members published on January 2. He’s on 36%, comfortably ahead of business spokeswoman Rebecca Long Bailey with Jess Phillips in third. “I ...

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Washington moves to brief allies cautious after Baghdad strike

Bloomberg The US moved quickly to brief governments abroad and seek support for its decision to kill the Iranian commander in charge of its elite Quds force, with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo calling counterparts in France, the UK, Russia and other major powers. Foreign leaders largely reacted with caution to President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a strike that ...

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Sanchez makes bid to start Spain’s new government

Bloomberg Pedro Sanchez began his bid on Saturday to form a new government with assistance from a Catalan separatist party as he urged Spain’s parliament to help him end the country’s political deadlock. Sanchez, Spain’s acting prime minister, needs to win the endorsement of the 350-seat chamber in a voting process that will continue until Tuesday. He is likely to ...

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Kim gives up on Trump, prepares to endure US sanctions

Bloomberg Kim Jong-un is giving up on hopes that US President Donald Trump will lift sanctions anytime soon. Alongside the North Korean leader’s latest saber-rattling the first week of 2020 was a stunning admission: Efforts to engage the US had failed. Kim’s plan now is to find a way to survive under crushing economic sanctions while building an even stronger ...

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