The head of the European Union’s executive called its parliament “totally ridiculous” during a spat over low MEP attendance. After EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker thanked the few dozens of the 700-plus MEPs for attending a plenary session, he insisted that “parliament is not serious” for failing to show up in large numbers for the keynote debate of the day.
The first face-to-face meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Hamburg. The Kremlin says terrorism; Syria and Ukraine will top its agenda.
Business leaders from the City of London are to send a delegation to Brussels with a proposal for a post-Brexit free trade deal for financial services, it is reported. According to the Financial Times, the group will be led by former City minister Mark Hoban as banks fear the fallout from Brexit negotiations if access to EU markets is curtailed.
Argentine president Mauricio Macri is scheduled to meet in Hamburg with British Prime Minister Theresa May to reinforce cooperation and joint efforts but with the difference resulting from the dispute over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands remaining on the table, according to government sources in Buenos Aires.
Economists have downgraded Britain’s growth prospects in the wake of political uncertainty following the general election and as a prolonged Brexit drag on business investment looms. New forecasts by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) show that the UK economy will grow by just 1.3% in 2017, a substantial downward revision from an earlier forecast of 1.7%.
Brexit is not a dominant issue for European Union countries, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond acknowledged as he called for jobs and prosperity to be the first priority in the negotiations. The Chancellor told business leaders that the UK had to remember that Brexit was “just one among many challenges” facing the other EU members.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) forensics team working to identify the remains of Argentine soldiers buried in Darwin cemetery has reported good progress.
The Swedish multinational brand H & M, known for its trendy clothing at affordable prices and which is present in 64 countries with a total of 4.300 stores, Friday announced on its website its plans to open stores in Uruguay and Ukraine by 2018.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla and his Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, Friday signed a memorandum of understanding whereby both countries will strenthen their economic ties.
Mr Nigel Phillips CBE has been appointed Governor of the in succession to Mr Colin Roberts CVO who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Phillips will take up his appointment in September 2017.