
Vladimir Putin rebuked his French counterpart on Monday, saying he did not want yellow vest protests spring up like in France, after Emmanuel Macron urged the Russian leader to abide by democratic principles following weeks of protests in Moscow.

An Iranian tanker at the centre of an angry confrontation between Iran and Washington sailed for Greece on Monday after it was freed from detention off Gibraltar, as Washington called the release unfortunate and warned Greece and Mediterranean ports against helping the vessel.

Brazil is considering designating Lebanese group Hezbollah a terrorist organization, as President Jair Bolsonaro increasingly aligns his government with the U.S. on foreign policy.

A bishop had denied point-blank any involvement of Pope Francis in Argentine politics, following on August 11 presidential primaries, which have quashed President Mauricio Macri's reelection aspirations, increasing opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez chances of taking office next 10 December, while Latin America's third economy was driven into financial chaos as the word default creeps intensely as a possibility in the near future.

Airbnb Inc recorded US$9.4 billion in total booking value in the first quarter, up 31% from the year-ago quarter, a key number that could help pull in investors as the home-sharing company plans its foray into the public market.

City administration of the capital of Qatar, Doha, began painting city roads in blue, as part of a pilot project to combat the effects of extreme heat. Qatar is scheduled to host the 2022 World Cup.

China's Ganfeng Lithium , said on Sunday it had completed a US$ 160 million deal to raise its stake in the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine project in the northern province of Jujuy, Argentina to 50%.

China’s State Council has called for greater development of the southern city of Shenzhen and the integration of its culture and economy with neighboring Hong Kong and Macau. The directive comes as anti-government protests in Hong Kong threaten the status of the Asian financial hub.

In an advance of a book to be launched this week, “The Mountbattens”, Lives & Loves”, author Andrew Lownie reveals how the Queen, in 1968, talked Lord Mountbatten out of leading a plot to overthrow the Labor government, then headed by Harold Wilson.

Australia’s new icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, is scheduled to make its maiden voyage to Antarctica in 2020-21. Two captains have already been named to lead the alternating crews operating the new vessel. They are Captain Scott Laughlin and Falkland Islander Captain Paul Clarke, both with experienced track records working in the Southern Ocean.