Former US president George Bush - seen here in 2008 - served one term as president but lost in 1992 to Democrat Bill Clinton. (File photo: AFP/John MacDougall) The 41st American president was a foreign policy realist who navigated the turbulent but largely peaceful fall of the Soviet Union in 1989 and assembled an unprecedented coalition to defeat Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein two years later. But the decorated war pilot and former CIA chief suffered the ignominy of being a one-term president, denied a second term over a weak economy when he lost the 1992 election to upstart Democrat Bill Clinton. His favouring of stability and international consensus stands in sharp contrast to the provocative bluster of fellow Republican and current White House occupant Donald Trump, a man whom Bush did not vote for in 2016. Bush presided over economic malaise at home, and infuriated his fellow Republicans during a budget battle with rival Democrats by famously breaking his vow: "Read my Lips: No … [Read more...] about George HW Bush: One term president helmed political dynasty
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Former US president George Bush, head of political dynasty, dead at 94
He was the upper-crust war hero-turned-oilman and diplomat who steered America through the end of the Cold War as president and led a political dynasty that saw his son win the White House. George W. Bush called his father a "man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for," in a statement announcing his death. "The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41's life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens." Bush's passing comes just months after the death in April of his wife and revered first lady Barbara Bush -- his "most beloved woman in the world" -- to whom he was married for 73 years. The 41st American president was a foreign policy realist who navigated the turbulent but largely peaceful fall of the Soviet Union in 1989 and assembled an unprecedented coalition to defeat Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein two years later. But the decorated war pilot and … [Read more...] about Former US president George Bush, head of political dynasty, dead at 94
National Assembly’s voting for Party chief Trong to become President held today
National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presented the NA Standing Committee’s nomination for the State President position, with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as the sole nominee. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong. - VNA/VNS Photo The announcement was made on October 22 as the country’s legislative body convened its 6th sitting, with the Presidential vote one of the key tasks on its agenda. NA Chairwoman Ngan said that starting from 8am ofnOctober 23, NA deputies will discuss the nomination for the head of state position in groups and the minutes of the group discussion will then be forwarded to the NA Standing Committee. Afterwards, the NA deputies will go to the plenary hall to start the presidential voting process. Per protocol, NA Standing Committee will first present the abovementioned minutes, listen to feedback from the plenary hall and incorporate them into their report. … [Read more...] about National Assembly’s voting for Party chief Trong to become President held today
FIFA to choose between North America or Morocco for 2026 World Cup
The North American bid leader Carlos Cordeiro (centre) has urged FIFA voters not to let politics cloud their decision AFP/Anders Kjaerbye The choice is clear - between a slick bid based on gleaming stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada or an ambitious attempt from Morocco based on as-yet largely unbuilt facilities. On the eve of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, 207 FIFA member nations will cast their vote in a congress of world football's governing body. Morocco's bid for 2026 was only cleared to advance to the runoff vote earlier this month, despite a FIFA evaluation report which classified the north African nation's stadia, accommodation and transport as "high risk." The report left the US-Canada-Mexico bid as the clear front-runner after giving it a rating of four out of a possible five. Morocco received only 2.7 out of five, but advanced despite red flags being raised over several critical components of the bid. A FIFA summary of the bid task force's findings warned that … [Read more...] about FIFA to choose between North America or Morocco for 2026 World Cup
Senegal sets higher bar for presidential bids despite protests
DAKAR — Senegal’s parliament on Thursday passed a law setting a higher bar for presidential candidates after protests that saw police fire tear gas on demonstrators, with dozens arrested according to the main opposition party. The change to the electoral law, approved by 120 of the body’s 165 lawmakers with the election less than a year away, increases the number of signatures candidates must collect in order to stand for president. The vote followed six hours of raucous debate during which a brawl erupted between MPs and one lawmaker tore up a copy of the legislation, which requires presidential hopefuls to collect the signatures of at least 0.8 per cent of the electorate. The some 52,000 signatures would have to be gathered in at least seven of the West African country’s 14 regions, with a minimum of 2,000 in each. The authorities say they fear an inflation in the number of presidential candidates in a country with nearly 300 parties, recalling the 47 … [Read more...] about Senegal sets higher bar for presidential bids despite protests