Ecuador president Lasso dissolves National Assembly, triggers early elections

By Alexandra Valencia, Reuters QUITO, May 17 (Reuters) – Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly by decree on Wednesday, bringing forward legislative and presidential elections and heading off an attempt by opposition politicians to impeach him. Police and military decked in riot gear guarded the National Assembly building …

DEMOCRACY DIGEST: EU MISSION TO HUNGARY SEES NO REASON TO UNFREEZE FUNDS

By Tim Gosling, Edit Inotai, Peter Dlhopolec and Claudia Ciobanu – Reporting Democracy Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, Warsaw Elsewhere, Polish parties try to outdo each other over child handouts; the media is in the headlines in Czechia; and Slovakia’s new technocratic government gets to work. Afact-finding delegation of the European Parliament’s …

GOODBYE TO THE AMERICAN CENTURY

By Michael T. Klare – TomDispatch, From Other News China, India, and the Emerging New World Order Not so long ago, political analysts were speaking of the “G-2” — that is, of a potential working alliance between the United States and China aimed at managing global problems for their mutual …

THE EU’S SECRET WEAPON AGAINST REFUGEES — TIME

By Maurice Stierl with Al Jazeera, for Other News   Delays in rescuing people at sea aren’t a European policy failure. They are a deliberate, cruel strategy When boats with refugees are at risk of capsizing in the Mediterranean Sea, the speed of rescue operations is essential. Any delay in …

Rich world has three ways to win over global South

By Hugo Dixon, Reuters The G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting opening session starts at International Conference Room of Toki Messe in Niigata, northern Japan, 11 May 2023. KIMIMASA MAYAMA/Pool via REUTERS TINOS, Greece, May 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) – The Group of Seven rich countries needs a stronger …

Biden administration announces $11 bln for rural clean energy projects

By Leah Douglas, Reuters U.S. President Joe Biden, who just announced his reelection campaign for president, delivers remarks at North America’s Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton, Washington D.C, U.S., April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) – Rural electric cooperatives, utilities, and other energy …