International

• Monday, May 20th 2013 - 07:09 UTC

  Pope Francis and Merkel talk economics: ‘rules of the social market have not been observed”

  

  German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Pope Francis and, apparently responding to his criticism of a heartless “dictatorship of the economy” and the “cult of money”, called for stronger regulation of financial markets.

• Monday, May 20th 2013 - 02:37 UTC

  Polynesia in decolonization list; Pacific islands proposal supported by 193 votes in UN General Assembly

  

  The UN General Assembly on Friday put French Polynesia on the global body's decolonization list at a meeting boycotted by France. The resolution, passed by consensus in the 193 member assembly, was called for by the Solomon Islands and other Pacific states that back the Pacific territory's pro-independence parties.

• Monday, May 20th 2013 - 00:16 UTC

  FIFA guarantees that Sao Paulo World Cup stadium will be ready on time

  

  FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has guaranteed Sao Paulo's World Cup football stadium will be ready on time, one day after claiming the venue could be taken off the tournament schedule due to construction delays.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 03:01 UTC

  Argentina, Brazil and the US form alliance of corn producers: Maizall

  

  Corn groups from the US, Argentina and Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding this week to form an international alliance of corn producers, collectively called MAIZALL.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 01:11 UTC

  UK attends with 28 companies the largest healthcare exhibition in Sao Paulo

  

  UK Government Minister Ken Clarke is leading the UK's largest ever Healthcare Technology and Life Sciences delegation to Brazil. Twenty eight companies will travel to Sao Paulo to attend Hospitalar (21 – 24 May), the largest healthcare exhibition in South America, which is expecting to attract around 90,000 visitors – as well as taking part in the trade mission.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 17:49 UTC

  World Hypertension Day: WHO says avoid processed, canned and ready-to-eat-foods

  

  At least 30% of people in the Americas suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure, for which excessive dietary salt is the main risk factor. For 1 of 3 people who have hypertension, cutting sodium intake can reduce their blood pressure to normal levels. Reducing dietary salt could also prevent an estimated 25% of heart attacks and strokes worldwide.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 06:40 UTC

  Pope Francis condemned the global ‘cult of money’ and the ‘new idols’

  

  Pope Francis has condemned the global “cult of money” and urged world leaders to do more for the poor. In his first major speech on finance and the economy, the pontiff said money should be made to “serve” people, not to “rule” them.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 06:26 UTC

  Uruguay’s José Mujica lauds booming Brazil ties

  

  By Jude Webber in Montevideo - The Financial Times has published a piece on Uruguayan president Jose Mujica and his view on the future and his government’s policy towards two powerful neighbors, Argentina and Brazil.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 02:38 UTC

  Prince Harry and PM Cameron launch in New York global campaign to promote Britain

  

  HRH Prince Harry and UK Prime Minister David Cameron this week kicked off a global tour promoting Britain as a world class destination for trade, tourism, investment and education as part of the GREAT Britain campaign.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 02:03 UTC

  The Arctic eight-member Council has accepted China and India as ‘observer states’

  

  New emerging powers including China and India have been accepted as “observer” states in the eight-nation Arctic Council and a new deal was signed to improve oil spill response to safeguard the fragile eco-system of the region, as Canada begun its chairmanship.