Leaders of the Brazilian bishops' conference announced their support for the massive demonstrations sweeping across the country but declined to say how they might affect World Youth Day activities and the visit of Pope Francis in July.
The British Government has appointed a new ambassador to Spain. Simon Manley will succeed Giles Paxman as the UK’s ambassador in Madrid and non-resident ambassador to Andorra. He takes up the post in October.
The Pacific Alliance is a ‘marketing success’ and does not represent a concern for Mercosur since it does not have the potential for physical integration as other blocks from the region, said Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota during a congressional hearing this week in Brasilia.
Paraguayan president elect Horacio Cartes held a meeting on Friday at his home with former Chilean president Ricardo Lagos and the Ibero-American secretary general Enrique Iglesias to talk “about Mercosur issues and Paraguay’s suspension from the block”, according to sources close to the meeting.
FIFA at no stage has discussed the possibility of canceling the Confederations Cup, which has been overshadowed by protests sweeping Brazil, according to a brief statement on Friday from soccer’s main organization following on reports from the Brazilian media.
New figures published on Friday by the UK Trade and Investment Defense and Security Organization (UKTI DSO) show that UK defense exports totaled £8.8 billion over the past year, a rise of 62% from 2011 in a global market that grew by 45%. The results mean the UK maintains its position as the second most successful defense exporter after the United States.
The World Bank is concerned about the spill-over effects on developing countries of a slowing of US money creation and will move to provide affordable capital when borrowing costs rise.
Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota confirmed on Thursday that Paraguay’s suspension from Mercosur will be in the agenda of the coming presidential summit, next 12 July in Montevideo.
Foreign minister Hector Timerman once again anticipated Argentina’s willingness to overcome the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands sovereignty conflict through dialogue, but unfortunately a resolution of the dispute was ‘hostage in London’ and of UK’s ‘imperial disdain’.
Still licking the wounds from her defeat at the Supreme Court that ruled unconstitutional several articles of her attempted and controversial judicial reform, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez ironically said she would be running for judge in 2015 and pledged to continue fighting.