Argentina’s Macri shelves sales taxes as he seeks to cut left’s lead
Argentine President Mauricio Macri, smarting from a bruising primary election loss, announced on Thursday an end to sales taxes on basic food products until the end of the year in a bid to salvage his re-election prospects and end an economic crisis.
North Korea rejects South Korea Moon’s dialogue pledge, says it will never have talks
North Korea said on Friday it will never sit down with South Korea for talks again, rejecting a vow by the South’s President Moon Jae-in to pursue dialogue with Pyongyang made the previous day as he pledged to bring in unification by 2045.
Syria says air defenses foil missile strike
Syrian air defenses identified a missile that was fired toward the city of Masyaf near Hama late on Thursday and destroyed it before it hit its target, a Syrian military source said.
Cuban government imposes price controls as it seeks to keep lid on inflation
Communist-run Cuba has imposed price controls on goods and services ranging from lemons and pork to haircuts and taxi fares in what it says is an effort to tame inflation as it increases state wages and pensions.
Political talks, central bank plan lift Argentina markets after grim rout
Argentine markets on Thursday bucked a dismal three-day losing streak on signs of political compromise to tackle a dizzying economic crisis and a new central bank measure to prop up a currency that had lost around a quarter of its value.
Argentina’s Macri says sales tax to be eliminated on some food products until end of year
Argentine President Mauricio Macri said on Thursday that sales tax will be eliminated on some basic food products, including bread, sugar and milk, until the end of year.
Syria says air defences foil missile strike
Syrian air defences identified a missile that was fired toward the city of Masyaf near Hama late on Thursday and destroyed it before it hit its target, a Syrian military source said.
Trump says does not want to see a violent crackdown by China in Hong Kong
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would not want to see China violently suppressing protesters in Hong Kong and that President Xi Jinping could resolve the situation quickly if he met personally with protest leaders.
Yemen separatists say ready for talks in Saudi Arabia over Aden crisis
Yemen’s southern separatists said on Thursday they were ready to attend a summit in Saudi Arabia to resolve a standoff in Aden after they seized the southern port, seat of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government.
Zimbabwe bans opposition demonstrations, police on high alert
Zimbabwean police have banned street demonstrations planned by the main opposition on Friday and anyone who takes part would be committing a crime, a police spokesman said, likely escalating political tension in the southern African nation.
