International

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 07:01 UTC

  Marine Protected Areas controversy in the South Atlantic

  

  In a brief communiqué released on Friday the Falkland Islands government takes note of a recent Argentine announcement indicating the creation of Marine Protected Areas to the south of the Budrwood Bank. The Falklands government said it “believes the designation of this area encroaches on our Fisheries Conservation Zone and steps are being taken to address the matter”.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 06:11 UTC

  Catalonia protest President Sanchez decision to lead his weekly cabinet meeting in Barcelona

  

  Thousands of pro-independence protesters angry about Spain’s cabinet holding a meeting in Catalonia have blocked roads across the region and clashed with anti-riot police in its capital. Grassroots separatist groups and unions called the protests to show their disgust at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s decision to lead his weekly cabinet meeting in Barcelona.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 06:03 UTC

  Pope Francis pledges that “never again” will the Church cover up clergy sex abuse

  

  Pope Francis has vowed that the Catholic Church will “never again” cover up clergy sex abuse and demanded that priests who have raped and molested children turn themselves in. Francis dedicated his annual Christmas speech to the Vatican bureaucracy to abuse, evidence that a year of devastating revelations of sexual misconduct and cover-up has shaken his papacy and caused a crisis of confidence in the Catholic hierarchy.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 05:46 UTC

  Gatwick Airport admits insufficient technology to prevent future drone disruptions

  

  The boss of London's Gatwick Airport has refused to rule out the possibility of future drone disruption once the military leave. Gatwick chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said there is currently no commercially available equipment he could put in place to neutralize the threat.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 05:37 UTC

  Bank of England leaves interest rates on hold, but cautions about intensified Brexit uncertainties

  

  The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold at 0.75% as it cautioned “intensified” Brexit uncertainties were slamming the brakes on UK growth. Policymakers on the Bank’s nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep rates unchanged in its last decision of 2018.

• Friday, December 21st 2018 - 12:03 UTC

  Santander fined £32.8m in UK for failing to process accounts of dead customers

  

  The Santander group has been fined more than £30m for “serious failings” in processing the accounts of dead customers, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said. The FCA found that Santander failed to transfer funds worth more than £183m to beneficiaries.

• Friday, December 21st 2018 - 08:55 UTC

  Falklands' sovereignty “not up for debate”, says PM May who praised changing relationship with Argentina

  

  While the relationship between the UK and Argentina is changing, the UK commitment to the people and sovereignty of the Falklands is unchanging, assured Prime Minister Theresa May in her Christmas speech to the Falklands.

• Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:21 UTC

  Another Brexit referendum “plausible” if deadlock in Parliament persists

  

  Another Brexit referendum will become a “plausible” way forward if there is deadlock in Parliament, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has said. She told ITV's Peston show while she did not personally support another vote, the case for one would grow if MPs could not agree another solution.

• Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:14 UTC

  European Union starts implementing preparations for a no-deal Brexit

  

  The European Commission says it has started to implement its preparations for a no-deal Brexit - in case the UK leaves the EU without a plan. It has announced temporary measures to try to reduce the impact but says it cannot counter all the problems it expects.

• Thursday, December 20th 2018 - 09:09 UTC

  In best US tradition, Trump says IS has been defeated and withdraws troops from Syria

  

  The Trump administration says US troops are being withdrawn from Syria, after the president said the Islamic State (IS) group had been “defeated”. The Pentagon said it was transitioning to the “next phase of the campaign” but did not give details.