
France's Parliament was unusually united this week in rejecting the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), thus yielding to protests from local farmers who fear unfair competition. The Senate gave its thumbs down Thursday, just one day after the Lower House did the same by 484 votes against 70.

Uruguay's President-elect Yamandú Orsi is scheduled to meet Friday in Brasilia with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to discuss the future relationship between both countries after the Broad Front's (Frente Amplio - FA) candidate is inaugurated on March 1. Orsi defeated Álvaro Delgado of the ruling Multicolor coalition in the Nov. 24 runoff and chose Brazil as his first destination abroad to launch his administration's diplomatic agenda.

The US dollar fell an iota short of crossing the R$ 6 barrier after measures announced by the Brazilian Government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva raised uneasiness in South America's largest country Thursday. The local currency has fallen 23.4% this year and 3.36% this week alone.

The Falkland Islands Government would like to thank everyone who responded to the Community Views Survey on Equality and Discrimination in the Falkland Islands.

Falkland Islands members of the Legislative Assembly, heads of Government Departments, and advisors are visiting Camp this weekend to meet the Farming community for a session of questions and answers.

Colombia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Roy Barreras asked Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for a meeting to postpone the application of the visa requirement saying it was highly untimely to set it into force ahead of the Christmas Holidays.

Venezuelan Police kept harassing the building of what used to be Argentina's Embassy in Caracas now guarded by Brazil since the diplomatic breakup. President Nicolás Maduro's regime targets six aides of opposition leader María Corina Machado who sought asylum there but were never granted safe passage to the airport after Buenos Aires agreed to welcome them. The premises have been without electricity for the past five days and with no water supply for two, the refugees said on social media.

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre De Moraes said Thursday that the Jan. 8, 2023, uprising in the country's capital proved that self-regulation of social networks does not work as its defenders claim it does. The magistrate spoke of the system's “bankruptcy” as the STF resumed reviewing the liability of companies operating social networks for the content posted by users, Agencia Brasil reported.

Uruguay's President-elect Yamandú Orsi did not rule out inviting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over to his inauguration during his first press conference after winning the runoff against Álvaro Delgado of the ruling Multicolor coalition. However, the former Mayor (Governor) of Canelones admitted some diplomatic difficulties with Caracas that he hoped to work out. In any case, he insisted that relations are between States and not between presidents. At any rate, the issue will be seen when the time comes, he added.

Bolivia will be collecting some US$ 120 million yearly for allowing Argentine gas from Vaca Muerta through to Brazil, Economy Minister Marcelo Montenegro explained Wednesday during a press conference in which he highlighted the importance of Tuesday's agreement to bringing fresh foreign currency into the country's coffers in addition to its strategic nature in a regional context riddled with energy challenges.