
An unexpectedly stubborn Euro zone recession and weakness in Japan will weigh on global economic growth this year before a rebound in 2014 that should deliver the fastest expansion since 2010, according to the International Monetary Fund.

British Prime Minister David Cameron insisted on Thursday he was not turning his back on Europe as the global elite at the annual Davos meeting gave his referendum plans a frosty reception.

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo had the opportunity to meet the President of the United States Barrack Obama during his five-day visit to Washington, No 6 said on Wednesday.

France, Germany and nine other European Union states side-stepped British opposition this week and won approval for a tax on financial transactions, it emerged on Wednesday.

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena called for “a more symmetrical, balanced and equitable relationship with Europe” during the first CELAC/EU academic summit in Santiago de Chile.

Brazilian and European leaders called on Thursday for the speedy conclusion of a free trade and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. The call for action was made as Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff hosted European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

A British Member of Parliament called for greater military support for France in Mali as a way of committing Paris in the event of an Argentine ‘invasion’ of the Falklands. However the British government downplayed any military attempt from Argentina and reiterated that no ground troops will put foot in the African country.

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, highlighted the “important role that Peru is playing in the Latinamerican region,” assuring that Peru will participate “very constructively” in the EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit, in Santiago de Chile, on 26-27 January.

Germany and France have warned UK Prime Minister David Cameron that Britain cannot pick and choose EU membership terms after he pledged a referendum. PM Cameron said a poll would be held if the Conservatives were returned to power at the next general election, which is expected in 2015.

Three members of Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth Antarctica team became the first humans to have visited and photographed a newly-discovered 9.000-strong colony of emperor penguins on Antarctica’s Princess Ragnhild Coast.