Falkland Islands' weekly Penguin News has received confirmation from the British Forces South Atlantic Islands Headquarters that earlier this week United Kingdom and Argentina held defense talks for the first time in over ten years. This week's PN reported on the front page that the Argentine newspaper Clarin released the story on the defense talks, but had no British defense confirmation to its request at the time of going to print.
Over a number of years the Falkland Islands Government have been reviewing and looking to update their immigration laws and procedures. The review formally started in 2013 and has seen a number of papers and proposals considered by the Government since that time. Two large papers were considered by the Islands Government in 2015, with a number of principles being agreed and legislation subsequently being updated.
The Government of Gibraltar has stated that it is not surprised by the reference to Clause 24 in a footnote to the draft legal text on the Withdrawal Agreement published by the European Union27 on Wednesday. However, it nonetheless constitutes a disgraceful affront to a small British country that voted by 96% to remain in the European Union.
Former British Prime Minister John Major called on Wednesday for a free vote in parliament on whether to reject any deal negotiated with the European Union, warning the current plans are “bad politics” that will damage the economy.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet top EU official Donald Tusk this Thursday, 24 hours before a major speech on British relations with the bloc after Brexit. Her talks with the European Council president come amid tensions over the EU's draft withdrawal treaty.
Two major US retailers have announced new restrictions on gun sales following the shooting at a Florida school where 17 people died. Dick's Sporting Goods, which has more than 600 shops, said it would no longer sell assault-style rifles, and backed “common sense gun reform”. Walmart later said it was raising the minimum age for anyone buying guns or ammunition to 21 years.
The recent statement entitled ‘Progress made towards establishing a second commercial Falkland Islands air link’ released by the Falkland Islands Government has met with a mixed reception in the Islands. While some have expressed favor others have reservations and questions.
The governor of Sao Paulo and likely centrist presidential candidate Geraldo Alckmin said that he would privatize Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras if he wins the elections in October.
Former Argentine president Carlos Menem rated the government of Cristina Fernandez one, out of a scale of ten, and with a smile told a CNN interviewer that all Argentine governments had been exposed to corruption except his. He also anticipated that Peronism will “rise from the ashes” and return to government in 2019.
By Gwynne Dyer
Why wait another month to report on the Russian election (March 18th) when we can wrap it up right now? Vladimir Putin is going to win another six years in power by a landslide — probably between 60% and 70% of the popular vote. The real question is what happens after that, because he will be 72 by the end of his next term and will not legally be allowed to run for president again.