The Vatican has been trying to get hip with the times ever since Pope Benedict XVI got a Twitter account in 2012. But Pope Francis took it to a new level on Saturday when he posted a tweet calling the Virgin Mary an “influencer.” Sure, as a significant figure in a religion with followers that…

The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, controlled by Russian energy giant Gazprom, is unlikely to be cancelled, according to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the new leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). “Nord Stream 2 is not the project that I support with all my heart… But key decisions were made earlier. The project just can’t…

Natural gas prices have fallen sharply after spiking to multi-year highs in late 2018, and prices could fall further still. The US entered the peak winter demand season with gas inventories at a 15-year low, which left the natural gas markets vulnerable to unexpected bouts of cold weather. In November, Henry Hub natural gas prices jumped as…

Trade between Russia and Japan grew by 20 percent to $20 billion last year, Economic Development Minister Maksim Oreshkin has said. He met with his Japanese counterpart Hiroshige Seko in Moscow on Tuesday. “Now we are specifying the categories of goods where we have prospects of increasing supplies,” the minister told journalists. Moscow and Tokyo…

Takasaki City, Japan  — Japan Cup Most Valuable Player Monica Abbott stifled the Japan offense, while Delaney Spaulding  and Amanda Chidester each blasted two-run home runs as Team USA topped Japan, 4-0 to win the 2018 Japan Cup.  With the title, the U.S. finished their 2018 international season with a perfect 20-0 record. Box Score “First…

VANCOUVER — A media report is quoting Canada’s ambassador to China as saying it would be “great for Canada” if the United States drops an extradition request against a Huawei executive, the day after he apologized for a politically explosive slip of the tongue when discussing the case. StarMetro Vancouver says John McCallum made the…

Experts weighed in on Russia’s strategic and business opportunities at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The official residence, Russia House, welcomed more than 300 guests. The panel dubbed “The Russia Economic Outlook” was hosted by Russia House, which is organized by the Roscongress Foundation. Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of global information provider IHS Markit,…

MUNICH — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Friday the response by the United States to China detaining two Canadians in apparent retaliation for the arrest of a Chinese Huawei executive has not been strong enough. Graham also told Munich Security Conference delegates the international reaction to China’s arrest of ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael…