International

• Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 06:37 UTC

  VW shares plunge 20% following emissions' scandal; fines could reach 18bn dollars

  

  Shares in German auto giant Volkswagen (VW) fell more than 20% in morning trading at the Frankfurt stock exchange on Monday in reaction to revelations that some of its diesel cars in the United States had been fitted with software that gave false emissions data.

• Monday, September 21st 2015 - 08:07 UTC

  Francis meets Fidel Castro and warns Cubans of the dangers of ideology

  

  Pope Francis met Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on Sunday hours after warning Cubans to beware the dangers of ideology and the lure of selfishness as the island enters a new era of closer ties with the United States. Latin America's first pope and Castro, the region's last surviving revolutionary icon of the 20th century, discussed religion and world affairs at the home of the 89-year-old retired president for about 40 minutes.

• Monday, September 21st 2015 - 07:53 UTC

  Che's daughter refuses to attend Pope Francis mass at Revolution Square

  

  The Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara’s daughter, Aleida Guevara refused to go to a mass Pope Francis conducted on Sunday during his historic Cuban trip, saying it would be “hypocritical” of her to be present.

• Saturday, September 19th 2015 - 08:36 UTC

  Pope Francis arrives in Cuba, but dissidents are skeptical about any changes

  

  Pope Francis praised Cubans' “spirit” in the face of adversity in a message broadcast ahead of his trip to the impoverished island. “It does me a lot of good and helps me to think of your faith in the Lord, of the spirit with which you confront the difficulties of each day,” the pope said in a message played on state television.

• Saturday, September 19th 2015 - 07:15 UTC

  UK economists debate on further interest rate cuts to combat low inflation

  

  The Bank of England may have to cut rates to combat low inflation, rather than raise them as its next move, its chief economist Andy Haldane has said. UK inflation may not pick up in the second half of the year, and there are risks of fallout from emerging economies, he said in a speech.

• Friday, September 18th 2015 - 07:58 UTC

  FIFA's investigation reaches Valcke, who is released from his duties until further notice

  

  FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has been put on leave and released from his duties until further notice. A Fifa statement said it had “been made aware of a series of allegations involving the secretary general”.

• Friday, September 18th 2015 - 07:52 UTC

  Fed leaves rates unchanged on concerns about a weak world economy

  

  The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday in a nod to concerns about a weak world economy, but left open the possibility of a modest policy tightening later this year. In what amounted to a tactical retreat, the US central bank said an array of global risks and other factors had convinced it to delay what would have been the first rate hike in nearly a decade.

• Friday, September 18th 2015 - 06:55 UTC

  Falklands' government congratulates new Labor leader, Jeremy Corbyn

  

  The Falkland Islands Government has congratulated the Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn MP on his election success. Mr Corbyn’s campaign to take up leadership after Ed Miliband resigned in May, touched a raw nerve with some Islanders after media picked up on a BBC interview from two years ago in which he said a “degree of joint administration,” could be used as a solution to the dispute over the Falkland Islands.

• Thursday, September 17th 2015 - 20:43 UTC

  Mozambique declared 'free of mines' after 22 years; HALO Trust confirmed destruction of last mine

  

  The government of Mozambique is expected to officially declare the country free of landmines shortly after the British mine clearance charity The HALO Trust confirmed it had destroyed the last mine on its last known minefield.

• Thursday, September 17th 2015 - 10:03 UTC

  Corbyn tells BBC he will not campaign for Britain to leave the European Union

  

  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has told the BBC that he will not campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. Mr. Corbyn said that while policy was “developing” he could not foresee a situation where Labor would campaign for a “Brexit” under his leadership. He has come under growing pressure from Labour MPs to clarify his position.