
By Simon Jenkins from The Guardian - The Conservatives’ stubborn stance on the Islands’ future is merely a refusal to let go of our last spark of military glory

European Commission Vice President for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis said on Monday that the European Union (EU)-Mercosur trade deal was ready for the final political push after technical negotiations were completed.

Brazil currently the chair of Mercosur has opened a consultation period until December 18 on a possible trade agreement between the South American block and the United Arab Emirates. The idea is to reach and listen to the private sector, scholars, civil society, academics and other interested parties.

According to an article in The Economist last week, Brazil's largest drug gang now has links throughout Europe. The First Capital Command (PCC), a gang officially born after a deadly football match between prison inmates in São Paulo in August 1993, has grown to some 40,000 life members and another 60,000 “contractors,” which would make it one of the world's largest criminal groups.

The pro-Palestinian terrorist group Hamas Saturday released another batch of hostages, consisting of 13 Israeli citizens and 4 Thais, in exchange for another 39 prison inmates held by Tel Aviv, matching the 1:3 ratio agreed upon for the duration of the humanitarian truce. The exchanges took longer than expected, it was reported.

During a ceremony at the Argentine Embassy in Lima last week, a group of retired Peruvian Air Force (FAP) pilots were awarded the Argentine Air Force's (FAA) Order of Heroes of the Malvinas, in the grade of Malvinas Medal for Contribution to the War Effort in the 1982 South Atlantic conflict with the United Kingdom.

Control Ciudadano (Social Watch - CC) Chairwoman Rocío San Miguel said Guyanese President Irfaan Alí's recent statements regarding the military support of several countries to defend the Essequibo amounted to a “very strong warning for Venezuela,” which will hold a referendum on the matter on Dec. 3.

A team of international researchers set sail on the Falklands flagged RRS Sir David Attenborough last Monday, 20 November to answer some of the big questions about how Antarctic ecosystems and sea ice drive global ocean cycles of carbon and nutrients.

The terrorist organization Hamas Friday handed over 13 hostages of the over 200 taken from Israel in the Oct. 7 attacks. The measure was enacted during a four-day ceasefire which also allowed for the release in return of 39 Palestinians who were serving prison sentences. Further swaps are expected in the coming days.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested that Chinese health authorities explain the rapid spread of a respiratory disease among children.