Paraguay announced officially that it will not be attending the Common Market Council of Mercosur in Montevideo next 30 July, if the agenda includes the transfer of the group's presidency to Venezuela.
Argentina's foreign minister Susana Malcorra confirmed that the United Nations Security Council held its first informal round of consultations among hopefuls for the UN Secretary General post, and underlined that the results of such talks are confidential, and there will be further such meetings, the first step in a long process.
The Argentine government is considering phasing out the incentives which benefit Patagonian ports fisheries exports. The announcement was made by Jorge Metz, Ports Under Secretary during a recent visit to Bahía Blanca although pointing out the issue was still under consideration by the cabinet chief office, but some advances would be made public in a month's time.
Alan Duncan KCMG MP has been appointed as Minister of State at the Foreign Office, responsible for Europe and the Americas. He replaces Hugo Swire MP, and will report to the new Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson. Sir Alan (59) remit will include NATO, the Americas, the Falklands, Gibraltar and polar regions.
The Argentine Navy tall ship frigate Libertad docked in Liverpool on Saturday on its first visit to the Mersey River in 24 years. Arriving in style to the sound of The Beatles, the crew band had been practicing Yellow Submarine since they left Argentina. Docked at Liverpool's cruise terminal she was open to the public on Sunday.
Mark Kent, the new British Ambassador to Argentina formally presented copies of diplomatic credentials to Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Foradori last week, marking the start of a four-year stint as London’s representative in Buenos Aires. Kent, who was British Ambassador to Thailand from 2012 until April of this year, replaces John Freeman.