
Falkland Islands MLA Michael Poole on behalf of the Legislative Assembly said the following on International Day of Democracy:

The current critical situation of Mercosur is an opportunity to strengthen and advance trade negotiations, which could include the long delayed accord with the European Union by the end of 2017, according to Argentina's Secretary of Commerce, Miguel Braun.

The Argentine/UK political convergence to promote bilateral dialogue and advance in areas of common interest for both parts “is not a closed agreement but a Joint Statement which describes principles and relates intentions”, pointed out Argentine deputy minister Carlos Foradori in an interview with Buenos Aires daily Clarin.

By Mark Kent (*) - The following piece was written in support of The Buenos Aires Herald 140th anniversary, 15 September 1876/2016.

The Argentine Ambassador´s Residence will be open to the public for Open House London 2016, which will take place on 17th and 18th September from noon until 5pm. This year the Embassy of Argentina will present the exhibition “PLAYHOUSE, by Argentine and British artists in the UK”.

Speaking ahead of “Our Ocean” conference in Washington DC, Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan announced plans to double the area of ocean under marine protection around the UK Overseas Territories to around four million square kilometers, greater than the landmass of India.

The Bank of England said on Thursday it was still likely to cut interest rates to just above zero later this year, even though the initial Brexit hit to Britain's economy would be less severe than it expected only last month. The Bank said its nine rate-setters were unanimous in their decision to keep Bank Rate at its new record low of 0.25%, the lowest in the BoE's 322-year history.

Brazil's former president Lula da Silva defended himself against corruption charges Thursday, saying the case against him was an attempt to destroy him politically ahead of elections in 2018.Speaking a day after prosecutors accused him of masterminding a massive corruption scheme at state oil company Petrobras, the popular leader launched a wide-ranging defense of his career and legacy.

Uruguay's deputy foreign minister Jose Luis Cancela said that if Uruguay had not complied with the other Mercosur three founding members' joint declaration ignoring Venezuela's presidency and demanding it complies with the group's legislation and treaties, Mercosur would have been launched into a period of full paralysis.

Falkland Islands oil explorer Rockhopper Exploration Plc has confirmed cost cuts at its Sea Lion project, which will reduce the scheme´s break-even price to US$ 45 a barrel. Capital investment at Sea Lion to reach first oil is now estimated at US$ 1.5bn.