International

• Monday, March 20th 2017 - 12:32 UTC

  French televised debate among top five presidential contenders in volatile atmosphere

  

  France's presidential election moves into high gear this Monday when the top five contenders face off in a TV debate that could help sway legions of undecided voters, a month before they go to the polls. Centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen are expected to come under attack in the first of three debates ahead of the April 23 opening round in France's most unpredictable election in decades.

• Monday, March 20th 2017 - 12:22 UTC

  Tony Blair insists Labour must work to remain in the EU

  

  Tony Blair has said Labour must back staying in the European Union to “recover its strategic grip on affairs and be competitive”. The former prime minister said he was not being disloyal, but that it is simply not credible to pretend that his party’s position is anything other than “serious”.

• Monday, March 20th 2017 - 08:31 UTC

  Holyrood will formally request Wednesday Westminster authority to hold a second independence referendum

  

  First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to warn Prime Minister Theresa May she will “shatter beyond repair” the notion that the UK is a partnership of equals if she turns down a request from the Scottish Parliament to hold a second independence referendum.

• Monday, March 20th 2017 - 08:24 UTC

  G20 Financial leaders leave out strong references to protectionism and climate change

  

  Financial leaders of the world's biggest economies dropped a pledge to keep global trade free and open, yielding to an increasingly protectionist United States after a two-day meeting in Germany failed to yield a compromise.

• Monday, March 20th 2017 - 08:12 UTC

  Brazil desperate to minimize extent of “Weak Flesh”, exposing bribes and poor controls in meat industry

  

  Brazil's President Michel Temer has sought to reassure foreign trade partners that the corruption scandal engulfing the country's meat industry does not mean its products are unsafe. Meeting ambassadors from Europe, the United States and China to share a barbeque, Temer said his government remained confident about the quality of Brazilian meat.

• Saturday, March 18th 2017 - 10:48 UTC

  Irish Prime minister Kenny reminds Trump that St Patrick was an immigrant

  

  Irish prime minister Enda Kenny made his annual visit to the White House on St. Patrick's Day, saying during his remarks that the celebration stems from an immigrant. “It’s fitting that we gather here each year to celebrate St. Patrick and his legacy,” Kenny said, while standing next to President Trump. “He, too, of course, was an immigrant.”

• Saturday, March 18th 2017 - 10:38 UTC

  Trump refuses to shake hands with Merkel after meeting in the White House

  

  A video showing US president Donald Trump refusing to shake hands with German chancellor Angela Merkel during a joint appearance in the White House is making rounds on the internet, reminding everyone that the US president will never learn.

• Saturday, March 18th 2017 - 10:09 UTC

  UK hosts this week Argentine biggest business delegation in 20 years

  

  Finance minister Nicolas Dujovne will be heading this week the largest Argentine business delegation to visit the UK in twenty years, jointly organized by the Argentine-British Chamber of Commerce with support from the Argentine foreign ministry and the embassy in London.

• Saturday, March 18th 2017 - 09:52 UTC

  Falklands' Law compliance needed for any Islands' major assets change of ownership

  

  The Falkland Islands government, FIG, stated on Friday that any proposal change of ownership affecting assets held in the Islands will be scrutinized for compliance with Falklands law. The statement follows the Argentine Dolphin Fund's announcement to the London Stock Exchange, earlier this week, of its interest in taking over the private company Falkland Islands Holdings, FIH.

• Friday, March 17th 2017 - 22:02 UTC

  Trade and protectionism in the G20 Brazil/US ministerial agenda

  

  Brazil's finance minister has said that he is ready to listen to the U.S. policies on trade at this weekend's G-20 meeting but speaks from experience when he says he believes a free economy is better for everyone. “Brazil actually has experience of closing down its economy,” Henrique Meirelles said on Thursday.