The UK government has begun talks to join the trans-Pacific trading bloc CPTPP, as part of its post-Brexit move to focus on trade outside of Europe. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss opened negotiations on Tuesday morning with Japan’s Yasutoshi Nishimura, the current chair of the CPTPP.
Tag Archives: Philip English
Armenia to hold snap election following Prime Minister Pashinyan’s resignation
Armenia will hold a snap parliamentary election on Sunday 20th June following the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in April. Pashinyan hopes by winning he will renew his mandate, having become increasingly unpopular after the signing of a Russian-brokered truce with Azerbaijan.
Tories wilfully underfunded childcare
The government has invested less than two-thirds of the estimated cost of properly funding childcare, recently released documents have revealed. According to these government briefing documents, the rates of funding for 2020-2021 did not meet the required amount to fund the free childcare initiative, which offers parents of three and four year old children thirty hours of free childcare per week.
Algeria holds parliamentary election, with many boycotting
Algeria’s first parliamentary election since the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been held amid mass calls for a boycott. Those choosing not to vote include the decentralised Hirak movement, who pushed against the former President in his attempt to stand for a fifth term.
Over 90% of English constituencies to be redrawn under Boundary Commission proposals
The Boundary Commission for England has announced plans for redrawing over 90% of parliamentary constituencies. The changes made would ensure all MP’s have between 69,724 and 77,062 constituents, though some island constituencies such as Anglesey or the Isle of Wight will not be held to these requirements.
89 politicians in Mexico murdered leading up to midterm elections
At least 89 Mexican politicians have been murdered in the last 200 days, 35 of which were candidates for the midterm elections. There has also been over 700 attacks, according to security consultancy firm Etellekt, including threats, beatings and kidnappings.
Tory government under pressure to back Biden’s global tax plan
The UK government is facing pressure to support a global minimum corporation tax proposed by US President Joe Biden, and to push for this at the upcoming G7 summit. The proposed tax would take on the big multinationals, and crack down on the shifting of profits to offshore havens.
Syria’s President Assad re-elected for fourth term
President al-Assad of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, won 95.19% of the vote, while the Socialist Unionists’ Abdallah Salluom Abdallah won 1.5% and the Democratic Arab Socialist Union’s Mahmud Ahmad Marei won 3.3%.
Guards to Epstein’s cell admit they falsified records
The pair tasked with guarding Jeffrey Epstein the night he died have admitted to falsifying records, but will escape jail time under a deal with federal prosecutors. Tova Noel and Michael Thomas from the Bureau of Prisons were accused of sleeping and scrolling through the internet the night Epstein died, rather than following proper monitoring procedure.
China’s Zhurong rover lands on Mars with great success
China’s Zhurong rover successfully landed on Mars this Saturday. This is the first time a non-American Mars landing has succeeded without a crash or loss of contact.
