International

• Sunday, May 7th 2017 - 14:54 UTC

  German Swiss spat over spying to catch tax dodgers

  

  German investigators suspect that a mole spied for Swiss intelligence from inside a government office which was trying to catch German tax dodgers. The allegations are part of the case against an alleged Swiss spy arrested in a Frankfurt hotel on Friday, 29 April, German media report. He is suspected of monitoring German tax investigators.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 12:27 UTC

  Macron should be next French president; En Marche could become largest party in June's legislative elections

  

  Independent French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron extended his lead in the polls over his far-right rival Marine Le Pen on Friday, the final day of campaigning in a tumultuous election race. Sunday's election is seen as the most important in France for decades, with two diametrically opposed views of Europe and France's place in the world at stake.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 12:17 UTC

  Argentina and China will sign contract to construct two nuclear powered plants

  

  Argentina and China will sign next 17 May in Beijing a contract for the construction of two new nuclear powered plants, with an investment of US$ 12.5 billion, according to Argentina's Nuclear energy deputy secretary, Julian Gadano.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 08:56 UTC

  FIFA's magic ways: Messi's four-game ban lifted, helping Argentina to reach Moscow

  

  Argentina's hopes of reaching next year’s World Cup were given a huge boost on Friday after FIFA overturned Lionel Messi’s four-game ban for swearing at an assistant referee, but is not good news for Uruguay and Ecuador, Argentina's next rivals and with chances of qualifying.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 08:35 UTC

  Brexit talks would be easier if EC officials “kept their views to themselves”

  

  Brexit talks would be easier if European Commission officials “kept their views to themselves”, Sir Michael Fallon has said amid claims that the EU is seeking to bully British voters. Defence Secretary bemoaned “one-sided leaking” from commission officials as he defended Prime Minister Theresa May’s scathing attack on Brussels in the wake of negative press stories about the negotiations on Britain’s exit from the EU.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 07:50 UTC

  Mercosur resumes trade talks with Australia and New Zealand

  

  Mercosur and CER (Closer Economic Relations), with includes Australia and New Zealand, resumed trade talks this week in Buenos Aires, with Argentina currently holding the South American block presidency chairing the meeting.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 07:44 UTC

  Reefer in distress heading for the Falklands; scheduled to arrive Saturday morning

  

  A Panama flagged merchant vessel with a crew of 42 sailing in the South Atlantic sent a distress call following “a massive intake of water” in one of its holds, but will attempt to reach the Falkland Islands on its own means, according to a Friday report from the Argentine navy.

• Friday, May 5th 2017 - 10:32 UTC

  Goldman Sachs warns Brexit could stall London's dominant financial position

  

  The chief executive of Goldman Sachs has warned that Brexit could see international banks reducing their footprint in Britain, and signaled the US firm has contingency plans in place to move staff out of the UK and into the EU.

• Friday, May 5th 2017 - 08:30 UTC

  Falklands oil exploration: Maersk denies in Argentine court any involvement since 2011

  

  Danish shipping company Maersk has denied involvement in any offshore exploration/exploitation activities in the Falkland Islands, since specific legislation was passed by the Argentine congress. The Argentine Chamber of Tugs accused the Danish company of violating legislation referred to oil industry operations in the disputed South Atlantic Islands.

• Friday, May 5th 2017 - 08:14 UTC

  Prince Philip, 95, steps down from royal duties

  

  The Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who will turn 96 next month, will step down from public life this fall, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. He will continue to carry out public engagements between now and August, according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace.