International

• 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 - 10:02 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 - 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.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2018 - 07:35 UTC

  UK/EU transition includes Gibraltar, but Spain retains veto power

  

  The UK and the European Union have agreed the terms of a transition deal that covers Gibraltar but also maintains Spain’s controversial veto, according to a report from the Gibraltar Chronicle. Gibraltar is included within the territorial scope of a draft withdrawal agreement that also sets out arrangements to smooth the UK’s departure from the bloc after March 2019.

• Monday, March 19th 2018 - 09:28 UTC

  Germany and Argentina champions of international free trade at G20 meeting

  

  Germany and Argentina want to uphold a pledge to keep international trade free at a summit of the world’s 20 largest economies in Buenos Aires this week, the countries’ finance ministers said on Sunday.

• Monday, March 19th 2018 - 09:03 UTC

  Xi Jinping has his most loyal ally, and head of anti corruption campaign, named vice-president

  

  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.

• Monday, March 19th 2018 - 08:52 UTC

  Next chief of China's central bank was educated in University of Illinois

  

  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.

• Monday, March 19th 2018 - 08:21 UTC

  Video Assistant Referee will be used at the World Cup in Russia

  

  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.

• Sunday, March 18th 2018 - 10:13 UTC

  Another four years for Putin, and with a landslide

  

  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.