China's parliament has endorsed Xi Jinping for a second term and appointed Wang Qishan as his vice-president. The ballot at the National People's Congress unanimously approved Mr Xi while Mr Wang received 2,969 votes in favor and only one against. Wang Qishan was previously in charge of corruption investigations in China.
US-educated economist Yi Gang has been named the next governor of China's central bank, replacing Zhou Xiaochuan. Mr Yi joined the People's Bank of China (PBOC) 20 years ago and has been its deputy governor since 2008. His appointment is being seen as one of ensured continuity as Beijing continues to try and rein in growing debt and limit risky financial practices.
It took about eight months, but Brazil's giant meat packing industry JBS is finally free of its Five Rivers Cattle Feeding operations. The Greeley-based company in Colorado had planned since last June to sell its massive cattle feeding operations, which span six states including Colorado. The deal became final and closed on Friday.
Travelers to Brazil are being warned to vaccinate themselves against yellow fever due to an outbreak of the disease in urban areas, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warned in a press release on Friday.
Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva launched a book Friday in which he says he is ready to go to jail and serve a 12-year and one-month sentence on a corruption charge conviction.
Video assistant referees will be used at the World Cup for the first time after Fifa formally approved the technology for this year's tournament. VAR has been trialed in some domestic English cup games this season, and has been used in Germany and Italy.
The port of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego expects to end the current 2017/18 cruise season with over 339 calls, fifty more than in the previous season, revealed governor Rosana Bertone who attended the SeaTrade International Fair in Miami, the world's major event of the industry.
By Gwynne Dyer - Vladmir Putin is going to win another six years in power by a landslide in the Russian election on March 18 — probably between 60 and 70 per cent of the popular vote. The real question is what happens after that, because he will be 72 by the end of his next term and will not legally be allowed to run for president again.
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has reappointed Dr. Fang Liu of China by acclamation as Secretary General of the UN Specialized Agency for a second three-year term, beginning 1 August 2018.
NGO Transparency Venezuela denounced through a follow-up that the Carnet de la Patria (homeland card), identity document devised by the government of Nicolás Maduro, is a tool of social control that seeks, among other purposes, the loyalty to the ruling party at the polls.