Top Somali Politician Steps Down, Avoiding Showdown With President

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Top Somali Politician Steps Down, Avoiding Showdown With President Photo The resignation of Mohamed Osman Jawari, right, the speaker of Somalia’s Parliament, could bring a peaceful resolution to his power struggle with President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. Credit Sadak Mohamed/Anadolu Agency, via Getty Images MOGADISHU, Somalia — The speaker of Somalia’s Parliament resigned on Monday ahead of a no-confidence vote, sparing the country a repeat of the armed standoff last week that threatened to descend into violence.
The decision by the speaker, Mohamed Osman Jawari, could mean a peaceful resolution to the power struggle between him and the president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.
Last week, a no-confidence motion by Mr. Mohamed’s allies against Mr. Jawari led to a face-off between armed members of the security services — those loyal to the speaker inside the Parliament, and those loyal to the president outside. The deadlock lasted several hours and ended after mediation by the African Union..

Hungary Election Was Free but Not Entirely Fair, Observers Say

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Hungary Election Was Free but Not Entirely Fair, Observers Say Photo Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, center, in Budapest on Sunday with other Hungarian leaders after election results were announced. His party, Fidesz, secured more than 49 percent of the vote. Credit Szilard Koszticsak/MTI, via Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary — One day after Viktor Orban and his governing Fidesz party and its allies won a sweeping election victory, independent election monitors said Monday that the party had used the resources of the state on a very large scale to bolster its chances of winning.
“Voters had a wide range of political options but intimidating and xenophobic rhetoric, media bias, and opaque campaign financing constricted the space for genuine political debate,” said Douglas Wake, the head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or O.S.C.E., mission in Hungary.
“The ubiquitous overlap between government information and ruling coalition campaigns, and other abu..

Federal Budget Deficit Projected to Top $1 Trillion in 2020

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Federal Budget Deficit Projected to Top $1 Trillion in 2020 Photo The government’s mounting debt has seemed of little consequence on Capitol Hill in recent months as Republicans in Congress successfully worked to pass a sweeping package of tax cuts. Credit Tom Brenner/The New York Times WASHINGTON — The federal government’s annual budget deficit is set to widen significantly in the next few years, topping $1 trillion in 2020 despite healthy economic growth, according to new projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
The national debt, which has topped $21 trillion, is expected to soar to more than $33 trillion in 2028. By then, debt held by the public will almost match the size of the nation’s economy, reaching 96 percent of gross domestic product, a higher level than any point since just after World War II and well past the level that economists say could court a crisis.
The new C.B.O. projection is the first since President Trump signed a tax cut that is expected t..

Zuckerberg to Tell Congress Facebook Made ‘Big Mistake’ on Multiple Fronts

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Zuckerberg to Tell Congress Facebook Made ‘Big Mistake’ on Multiple Fronts Photo Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, is expected to tell Congress that “it will take some time to work through all of the changes we need to make,” according to a copy of his testimony. Credit Jeff Roberson/Associated Press When he goes before Congress this week, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, will issue a broad apology for letting the website be used as a conduit for fake news, election meddling by foreign entities, hate speech and privacy abuses, according to a copy of his testimony released on Monday.
“We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake,” Mr. Zuckerberg said in comments published by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. “It was my mistake, and I’m sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here.”
Facebook is entering a week of intense scrutiny in Washington, with Mr. Zuckerberg scheduled to testi..

Russia stock market crashes 11% after US imposes sanctions on oligarchs linked to Kremlin

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Aluminium giant Rusal, which is controlled by Oleg Deripaska, halved in value on Monday
Russia’s main share index crashed 11 per cent on Monday after the US imposed new sanctions on oligarchs and companies linked to Vladimir Putin.
Aluminium giant Rusal, which is controlled by Oleg Deripaska, halved in value on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday, while EN+, a holding company also owned by Mr Deripaska crashed by 40 per cent.
The aluminium tycoon has close ties to Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort as well as Mr Putin.
Read more Russia warns UK it is 'playing with fire and will be sorry' Just two companies on Russia’s moex stock market were in positive territory on Monday. The widespread falls came as investors reacted to news that Washington had extended sanctions on Friday to seven oligarchs and 12 companies controlled by them, as well as 17 Russian government officials.
Alexei Miller, director of state-owned Gazprom, is on the list, as is Kiri..