Falkland Islands

• Friday, November 2nd 2012 - 23:12 UTC

  UK confirms BAS first-class scientific research and Antarctica strategic presence

  

  Plans to merge the British Antarctic Survey (closely linked to the Falkland Islands) and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) have been ruled out, Science minister David Willetts announced. In a written statement he said the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) had decided not to proceed with the proposal.

• Friday, November 2nd 2012 - 23:07 UTC

  Falklands extends Rockhopper licences to evaluate further oil potential

  

  The Falkland Islands government has granted a one year extension for Rockhopper Exploration’s production licences PL023 and PL024. The licences, in which Rockhopper has a 40% interest, have been extended until November 2013, with no requirement for the operator to perform further work on the licences in that time.

• Friday, November 2nd 2012 - 06:16 UTC

  A Panamanian view of the Falkland Islands

  

  Yasmina Reyes is the Editor of the International Section of the La Prensa newspaper in Panama City and was one of the journalists from Central America that recently traveled to the Falkland Islands. She has written the guest post below about her experience.

• Friday, November 2nd 2012 - 05:57 UTC

  Type-21 Frigate Association present at Remembrance Sunday in UK and Falklands

  

  The Royal Navy Type 21 Association raised funds in support of activities to remember those that have lost their lives in war and peace whilst serving in the Armed Forces. The funds were raised at a successful reunion recently held in Devonport where the eight Type 21 ships were based.

• Thursday, November 1st 2012 - 00:10 UTC

  Hedge funds quietly investing in Falklands’ oil exploration companies

  

  Hedge funds have been quietly building up stakes in the oil explorers operating off the Falkland Islands betting that companies will ignore the threats made by Argentina to disrupt the activity, according to a Reuters’ piece published this week.

• Wednesday, October 31st 2012 - 23:13 UTC

  Falklands’ Desire Petroleum plans for the next three years

  

  Planning ahead for the next three years Falkland Islands Desire Petroleum announced on Wednesday changes to its Production Licences following approval received from Executive Council.

• Wednesday, October 31st 2012 - 23:01 UTC

  Falklands’ proposed referendum question enters public consultation period

  

  The Falkland Islands government has opened a public consultation on the proposed referendum question on the Falklands Political Status to be held in early 2013. The proposed question was arrived at and agreed by all members of the Legislative Assembly having received expert advice on the issue.

• Wednesday, October 31st 2012 - 22:41 UTC

  Falklands’ flag flies at Parliament Square to mark a British state occasion

  

  For the first time, the 16 flags of the British Overseas Territories including the Falkland Islands are being flown in Parliament Square, alongside the flags of the Crown Dependencies, to mark a state occasion, reports an official release from the Foreign Office.

• Tuesday, October 30th 2012 - 14:15 UTC

  HMS Dauntless in Portsmouth after South Atlantic deployment; HMS Edinburgh on her way

  

  After a six-month deployment to the South Atlantic, including a patrol and exercises in the Falkland Islands, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless has returned to her home port in Portsmouth, southern England.

• Friday, October 26th 2012 - 20:25 UTC

  Falklands estimates oil earnings at 25% of gross value of the resource extracted

  

  The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) is likely to earn somewhere in the region of 25 to 30% of the gross value of the oil resource spread over an expected field life of 25 years, it was stated at a public meeting in the capital Stanley earlier this week.