Politics

• Monday, May 8th 2017 - 05:45 UTC

  Strong reaction from the Euro; sigh of relief from investors

  

  The Euro has risen after pro-EU Emmanuel Macron won France's presidential vote by a large margin. The single currency strengthened 0.2% against the dollar as investors were reassured over the future stability of the European project. Macron has proposed cutting corporation tax and changes to the labour market.

• Monday, May 8th 2017 - 05:25 UTC

  Landslide wins for Macron, 66% to 34%; France's elected president managed to create a wave of optimism

  

  Emmanuel Macron, the independent candidate who has been elected as France's next president following his Sunday runoff 66% to 34% victory over Marine Le Pen, has triggered a political earthquake in his country's politics, and his performance will be closely monitored by other EU members, particularly Germany and Italy, facing similarly challenging elections.

• Monday, May 8th 2017 - 05:15 UTC

  Tories advance in council elections forecasts a strong result for Theresa May on 8 June

  

  British Prime Minister Theresa May said she was “taking nothing for granted” following her Conservative party's good showing in local election results reported on 5 May. The party gained control of 11 councils for a total of 28 and added 559 new councilors across England, Scotland and Wales.

• Sunday, May 7th 2017 - 14:54 UTC

  German Swiss spat over spying to catch tax dodgers

  

  German investigators suspect that a mole spied for Swiss intelligence from inside a government office which was trying to catch German tax dodgers. The allegations are part of the case against an alleged Swiss spy arrested in a Frankfurt hotel on Friday, 29 April, German media report. He is suspected of monitoring German tax investigators.

• Sunday, May 7th 2017 - 14:09 UTC

  Falklands' CEO Barry Rowland named Acting Governor

  

  The Falkland Islands Government Chief Executive Barry Rowland has been appointed as Acting Governor of the Falkland Islands and Acting Commissioner of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands for the period 3-14 May 2017.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 12:27 UTC

  Macron should be next French president; En Marche could become largest party in June's legislative elections

  

  Independent French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron extended his lead in the polls over his far-right rival Marine Le Pen on Friday, the final day of campaigning in a tumultuous election race. Sunday's election is seen as the most important in France for decades, with two diametrically opposed views of Europe and France's place in the world at stake.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 12:17 UTC

  Argentina and China will sign contract to construct two nuclear powered plants

  

  Argentina and China will sign next 17 May in Beijing a contract for the construction of two new nuclear powered plants, with an investment of US$ 12.5 billion, according to Argentina's Nuclear energy deputy secretary, Julian Gadano.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 11:36 UTC

  Brazil sacks head of indigenous affairs agency; the long arm of agri-business?

  

  Brazil's government on Friday sacked the head of its agency handling indigenous issues, a week after 13 members of one tribe were wounded in a bloody attack by ranchers in a land dispute.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 08:35 UTC

  Brexit talks would be easier if EC officials “kept their views to themselves”

  

  Brexit talks would be easier if European Commission officials “kept their views to themselves”, Sir Michael Fallon has said amid claims that the EU is seeking to bully British voters. Defence Secretary bemoaned “one-sided leaking” from commission officials as he defended Prime Minister Theresa May’s scathing attack on Brussels in the wake of negative press stories about the negotiations on Britain’s exit from the EU.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 08:04 UTC

  Venezuela death toll climbs to 40; some military refuse to repress; statue of Chavez destroyed

  

  A 20-year-old Venezuelan protester died on Friday after being shot in the head, authorities said, taking fatalities from a month of anti-government unrest to at least 40 as the opposition geared up for more demonstrations. Hecder Lugo was hurt during fighting between demonstrators and security forces in Valencia on Thursday that also injured four others, the local opposition Mayor Enzo Scarano said in a series of tweets.