
Sputnik, the official Russian news agency has recalled the 1982 South Atlantic conflict on the 36th anniversary, and offers an interesting interpretation of events previous to the war, the fighting itself and prospects for the future, making emphasis on the overall world scenario at the time.

The European Union has recalled its ambassador to Moscow after leaders agreed it was “highly likely” Russia was responsible for a nerve agent attack in the UK. In a statement following an evening of talks in Brussels, the European Council of EU leaders agreed “there is no plausible alternative explanation”.

President Donald Trump congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election during a phone call on Tuesday and the two leaders agreed to hold talks soon. “We will probably get together in the not-too-distant future, so we can discuss arms, we can discuss arms race.” Trump told reporters before an oval office meeting with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Vladimir Putin has said he is open to constructive dialogue with other states after being re-elected president of Russia with an increased majority. Saying there would be no arms race, he promised to cut defense spending.

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.

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.

British police launched a murder investigation Friday after an autopsy revealed that a Russian exile who was critical of Vladimir Putin was strangled in his home. Nikolay Glushkov, whose body was found on Monday, died as a result of “compression to the neck,” London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

The leaders of France, Germany, the US and UK say there is “no plausible alternative explanation” to Russia having been behind the nerve agent attack in the UK. They condemned the “first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War”, calling it an assault on UK sovereignty.

The UK will expel 23 Russian diplomats after Moscow refused to explain how a Russian-made nerve agent was used on a former spy in Salisbury, the PM says. Theresa May said the diplomats, who have a week to leave, were identified as “undeclared intelligence officers”. She also revoked an invitation to Russia's foreign minister, and said the Royal Family would not attend the Fifa World Cup later this year.

Counter-terror police are leading an investigation into the “unexplained” death of a man in London. He is believed to be Russian businessman Nikolai Glushkov, who claimed political asylum in the UK after being convicted of fraud.