Falkland Islands

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 14:05 UTC

  London rejects bill initiative to ensure Falklands’ remain British

  

  The government has ruled out bringing in a UK law to ensure the Falkland Islands' right to remain British. Tory MP Guy Opperman said legislation would show support for the “unambiguous right to self-determination”.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 13:58 UTC

  HMS Dauntless on South Atlantic patrol in coincidence with Falklands’ anniversary

  

  The UK press reports that the Royal Navy is to send one of its most powerful warships to the Falkland Islands as tensions rise with Argentina over the disputed territory.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 13:55 UTC

  Falklands’ government advances in options for a proposed new port facility

  

  A paper relating to further work on options for the proposed new port facility for the Falkland Islands was presented to the latest Executive Council Meeting by the Falkland Islands Government Projects Director.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:35 UTC

  Malvinas dispute a ‘bilateral issue’ which is not included in the EU agenda

  

  European Union ambassador in Buenos Aires Alfonso Diez Torres said that the Falklands/Malvinas issue does not figure in the foreign affairs agenda of the EU, it’s a bilateral issue and he does not see any reason to amend the Lisbon treaty to exclude the disputed South Atlantic Islands as demanded by Argentina.

• Monday, January 30th 2012 - 15:35 UTC

  Keith Padgett interim Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands

  

  Last Friday it was announced that Keith Padgett, Financial Director for the Falkland Islands Government, has been appointed interim Chief Executive of the Islands until a replacement is appointed for outgoing CE, Tim Thorogood.

• Monday, January 30th 2012 - 06:25 UTC

  Contruction of St Helena airport begins next May, should be ready in 48 months

  

  The Argentina press announced on Sunday the construction of an airport in the middle of the Atlantic Island of St Helena, a British Overseas Territory and which would become a crucial hopping point for the Falklands/UK air bridge.

• Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 07:09 UTC

  UK praises naming of Argentine ambassador to London, calls for “strengthened cooperation”

  

  The British government acknowledged on Friday the naming of the new Argentine ambassador to the United Kingdom, and stated that they hoped the coverage of the long-vacant position will permit “the strengthening of cooperation” between the two countries.

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 10:50 UTC

  Greenpeace claims CFK is ‘ill-advised’ regarding Malvinas environmental claims

  

  The Argentine chapter of Greenpeace suggested President Cristina Fernandez, CFK, is ‘ill-advised’ when she claimed on Wednesday no environmental group has criticized what is “going on in Malvinas” in direct reference to oil exploration and fisheries in the Falklands.

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 02:51 UTC

  Argentine Senate and House of Commons absorbed by Falklands’ debate

  

  A new round of exchanges on the Falklands/Malvinas dispute took place on Thursday when an Argentine Senate Committee unanimously voted in favour of debating a declaration bill “strongly repudiating” British Prime Minister David Cameron’s “colonialist” statements, while a British minister accused Argentina of “sabre-rattling.”

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 02:44 UTC

  Falklands’ oil industry says first round of exploration was “hugely successful”

  

  Falklands’ oil industry sources said the round of oil exploration began in 2010 with the “Ocean Guardian” rig and just concluded, involving Rockhopper Exploration and Desire Petroleum, was “hugely successful” with several major oil and gas discoveries.