
Despite the controversy generated by Wednesday picture which showed Pope Francis holding a banner calling for dialogue between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, and later a spokesperson's dismissal of the significance of the incidence, the best definition of what really happened seems to have come from Argentina's cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez in his daily media conference, the pontiff, he said, spoke with his low tone but strong voice.

Pope Francis was sucked into Argentina's dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands after an activist thrust a sign in his hands calling for dialogue between the two countries and President Cristina Fernandez jumped on the opportunity to rekindle the fight.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and several other high-ranking German politicians touched down in Brazil's capital, Brasilia late Wednesday. The German delegation set off on its 12-hour flight immediately after a Bundestag vote approving a new bailout package for Greece.

After days of volatility Chinese equities traded lower once again on Thursday, despite Beijing's efforts to calm markets. The mainland's benchmark Shanghai Composite was 1.3% down to 3,751.48 points.

Funds for decommissioning fishing vessels during 2015 have increased by 12.9 million Euros to 23.2m Euros, according to what was reported by the Xunta of Galicia (north-west Spain) Ministry of Rural and Marine Affairs.

Representatives of Colombia's largest guerrilla movement have asked to meet Pope Francis in Cuba in September and have requested the Catholic Church name a permanent delegate to their peace negotiations with the government.

It would take at least US$120 million and more than 100,000 people to clean up the Sargassum seaweed that has created “an international crisis” and “the greatest single threat” to the Caribbean, according to Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Sir Hilary Beckles.

Scotland, Canada, Chile and Norway will work together to promote and grow the aquaculture industry sustainably. The four countries are the world's main exporters of farmed salmon.

China stocks continued their sell-off on Wednesday following a 6% plunge in the previous session. The benchmark Shanghai Composite opened down 2.7% at 3,646.75 points on Wednesday before sliding further to register a 5% loss by mid-morning. The index closed down 6.1% at 3,749.12 points on Tuesday, its biggest daily decline since July 27.

Honorary FIFA vice president Chung Mong-Joon says he will clean the sport of football if elected president of FIFA. Chung blames the previous president Sepp Blatter for the recent corruption scandals which have cast shadows over the sport and its organizing body.