Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s conviction on corruption charges is not a political statement, but an enforcement of the law demonstrative of Brazil’s commitment to combat corruption at the highest levels of society, Brazilian Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot said at the Atlantic Council this week.
United States President Donald Trump has triggered a shake-up by appointing Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci as his White House communications director. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer quit, reportedly in response to the move, which was announced on 21 July. He had been partially filling the communications role since the previous incumbent Michael Dubke resigned in May.
Sir Vince Cable has become the new leader of the Liberal Democrats with a promise to offer voters the possibility of an “exit from Brexit” through a second referendum on EU membership. The former business secretary took up the role after nominations for the post closed without him facing any challengers, becoming, at 74, the oldest leader in the party’s history.
Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alfonso Dastis, will visit the Campo de Gibraltar in September to discuss the impact of Brexit on cross-border workers and the wider region. The forthcoming visit was announced late Thursday night following a meeting in Madrid between the minister and officials from the Campo.
The office of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro released a statement with comments from the European Council Venice Commission on the legality of the Venezuelan presidency decree which was used to convene elections for a constituent assembly to modify the country´s main law.
The members of Mercosur trade bloc called for an end to violence in Venezuela in a joint statement on Friday. However again opinions were divided: while Brazil and Argentina sponsored a more explicit warning to President Nicolas Maduro and his regime, Uruguay had it redrafted in a more conciliatory tone and Paraguay finally came out with a compromise option.
The Falkland Islands government Policy and Economic Unit has released the 2016 Census Report (*) which indicates that the total number of people counted in the Islands on census night, 9 October 2016, was 3,354. This figure includes visitors to the Islands and people who are not normally resident in the country, for example tourists or crew on vessels in Falklands waters on census night.
The United States Supreme Court dealt a blow to President Donald Trump's travel ban this week, rejecting his bid to bar entry by some people with family members already in the country. The three-sentence order by the Justices — who last month let president Trump start restricting entry by people from six mostly Muslim countries — means the government must accept people with grandparents, cousins and other relatives in the U.S.
Several proposed changes to the Work Permits system and new categories of permits for visitors and dependents were debated by the Falkland Islands Members of Legislative Assembly last Tuesday at the Select Committee on the Immigration (Amendment) (No 2) Bill.
The first of eight new Type 26 frigates being built for the Royal Navy has been named HMS Glasgow. The name was revealed by Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon as he cut the first steel on the ship at BAE System's Govan shipyard. The last HMS Glasgow, a Type 42 Destroyer, was awarded the Falkland Islands 1982 battle honor. The new anti-submarine warfare frigates will be known as the City Class.