Stories for March 20th 2018

Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 11:12 UTC
Putin favors “constructive” dialogue: but just as in love both sides must show an interest

Vladimir Putin has said he is open to “constructive” dialogue with other states after being re-elected president of Russia with an increased majority. Saying there would be no “arms race”, he promised to cut defense spending.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:44 UTC
UK and EU agree on a “large part” of Brexit's implementation period, but issues remain

UK and EU have agreed on a “large part” of the agreement that will lead to the “orderly withdrawal” of the UK. Negotiators Michel Barnier and David Davis said the deal on what the UK calls the implementation period was a “decisive step” in the Brexit process, although some of the issues still to be resolved include the Northern Ireland border.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:20 UTC
“There is simply no time to lose” to avert the loss of water supplies

The world must race to avert disastrous loss of water supplies, Brazil's President Michel Temer told a conference Monday, after the UN said some 5.7 billion people may run short of drinking water by 2050.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:17 UTC
Peruvian president said removing him from office would amount to a coup détat

Peru's embattled President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Monday he was confident of surviving an impeachment vote later this week. “I know that Thursday will be fine,” the conservative leader said in a speech in the Amazonian city of Iquitos.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:15 UTC
Francis balancing act in a letter to Argentines on the fifth anniversary of his pontificate

In a letter addressed to Argentine women and men who expressed their closeness on the fifth anniversary of his pontificate March 13, Pope Francis said his love for Argentina continues to be “great and intense,” and also apologized for gestures he’s made that might have caused offense.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:08 UTC
“Progressive” governments wide spread corruption in the region threatens the political system

The wave of corruption that has spread throughout Latin America has shaken regional institutions, disillusioned populations and should define the electoral cycle that many Latin American nations are going through.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 10:02 UTC
Norwegian company in Brazil apologizes for toxic spill into a local river

Norwegian energy group Norsk Hydro, accused of causing environmental damage in northern Brazil, on Monday apologized for the unauthorized discharge of untreated water into a local river from its aluminum factory Alunorte, the largest in the world.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 09:35 UTC
Ex-president Sarkozy, arrested for supposed illegal financing

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been arrested on Tuesday at west of Paris as part of an investigation that revealed he received millions of euros in illegal financing from the regime of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2007.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 08:16 UTC
Lula begins tour of south Brazil and meets Mujica, but it was a bad day for both leaders

Protesters interrupted the start on Monday of an election campaign tour by former Brazilian president Lula da Silva, who leads opinion polls but faces a lengthy jail sentence for corruption. Police had to intervene to separate some 150 protesting farmers and Lula's supporters in Bage, where the populist leader was starting a bus tour of southern Brazil ahead of October 7 elections.
Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 07:51 UTC
Falklands: proposed second flight and stop in Argentina dominates public meeting debate

A lively exchange took place during the Falkland Islands March 12 public meeting in which the proposed second commercial flight to a third country with a stop in Argentina was considered. The public was particularly interested in knowing if any “red lines” had been established and wanted confirmation that one of the stop options was not to be Buenos Aires.