Latest Government policy News

Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of the populist prime minister, is sworn in as Slovakia's president

Jun. 15, 2024 07:53 AM EDT

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Peter Pellegrini was sworn in as the president of Slovakia on Saturday in a ceremony that took place amid heightened security following an assassination attempt on his close ally, populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, a month ago. Pellegrini called for...

Cyprus says no let-up to fiscal discipline course as S&P raises country's credit rating to BBB+

Jun. 15, 2024 04:52 AM EDT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus said Saturday it won’t let up on a course of strict fiscal discipline while supporting economically vulnerable groups and the middle class after credit ratings agency Standard & Poor''s upgraded the country’s rating to BBB+ from BBB. Cypriot...

Independent report criticizes Cuomo's 'top-down' management of New York's COVID-19 response

Jun. 14, 2024 20:15 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — An investigation into New York’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic found former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's “top down” approach of dictating public health policy through his office, rather than coordinating with state and local agencies, sewed confusion during the crisis. ...

California Senate approves ban on schools notifying parents of their child's pronoun change

Jun. 13, 2024 17:19 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — School districts in California would be barred from requiring teachers to notify parents if their child asks to go by a new pronoun at school under a bill the state Legislature is weighing amid legal battles over the rights of parents and gender-nonconforming students. ...

Top EU court fines Hungary $216 million for flouting asylum law

Jun. 13, 2024 08:53 AM EDT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s top court ordered Hungary to pay a fine of 200 million euros ($216 million) on Thursday for persistently breaking the bloc’s asylum rules despite a previous European Court of Justice ruling, plus an additional 1 million euros for every day it fails to...

Chinese Premier Li and New Zealand’s Luxon hail close ties as they sign trade deals in Wellington

Jun. 13, 2024 06:57 AM EDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Thursday in Wellington, where the two leaders played up the ability of “good friends” to respectfully disagree — while publicly diverging on little. Li, China’s...

Stock market today: Asia shares rise amid Bank of Japan focus after the Fed stands pat

Jun. 12, 2024 23:56 PM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Thursday, as investors turned their attention to what the Bank of Japan might decide on monetary policy later this week. The Bank of Japan is not expected to raise its benchmark rate when it wraps up its meeting on Friday, but the economy is...

Text of the policy statement the Federal Reserve released Wednesday

Jun. 12, 2024 14:44 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Below is the statement the Federal Reserve released Wednesday after its latest policy meeting ended: Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. Job gains have remained strong, and the unemployment rate has remained...

Australia anticipates China will lift final obstacle for exports as they ease past 2020 row

Jun. 12, 2024 02:34 AM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell on Wednesday predicted the final obstacle for exports to China, Beijing’s ban on live lobster imports, will be lifted soon after Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits the country. The return of lobsters to the Chinese...

Stock market today: Asian stocks are mixed ahead of this week's Fed meeting

Jun. 11, 2024 00:22 AM EDT

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks were mixed on Tuesday in a busy week with several top-tier reports on U.S. inflation due along with a policy meeting of the Federal Reserve. U.S. futures and oil prices fell. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index was up 0.3% at 39,155.16 as an...