International

• Tuesday, March 14th 2017 - 11:42 UTC

  Brexit bill expected to become law on Tuesday; process to begin end of March

  

  The British Parliament passed on Monday the Brexit bill, paving the way for the government to trigger Article 50 so the UK can leave the European Union. Peers backed down over the issues of EU residency rights and a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal after their objections were overturned by MPs. The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent and become law on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, March 14th 2017 - 06:49 UTC

  Argentina protests with Brasilia over Falklands RAF flights calling in Brazil

  

  The Argentine government reiterated on Monday its disappointment with the UK military flights linking with the Falkland Islands and calling in Brazil. “We made a complaint to Brazil regarding flights and we have also instructed our embassy in the UK”, said Malcorra speaking to the media.

• Tuesday, March 14th 2017 - 06:36 UTC

  Scottish government plans second independence referendum in 2018/19

  

  Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed she will ask for permission to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence, and the vote would be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of the following year. That would coincide with the expected conclusion of the UK's Brexit negotiations.

• Tuesday, March 14th 2017 - 06:26 UTC

  Falklands denies any commitment to reduce oil royalty has been entered

  

  The Falkland Islands government announced on Monday that it is currently in discussion with Premier Oil on a wide range of issues with the objective of progressing the Sea Lion development towards a successful project sanction.

• Monday, March 13th 2017 - 18:52 UTC

  Airbnb raises US$ 1 billion to expand operations; company valued at US$ 30bn

  

  Airbnb has raised around US$1bn in a funding round to expand its operations, the San Francisco- based start-up revealed in a SEC filing last Thursday. The Series F funding round commenced in June 2016 and by September last year it had managed to raise about US$550m. Investors such as Alphabet's venture capital arm GV, had then purchased stake in the start-up for US$105 per share.

• Monday, March 13th 2017 - 08:39 UTC

  UK's £50bn Brexit “divorce bill”: follow the example of PM Thatcher, says Boris

  

  Boris Johnson has told the BBC that Britain should reject any EU demands for a £50bn “exit bill” and follow the example of former PM Margaret Thatcher. It has been reported that EU negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must continue to pay into the EU until 2020.

• Monday, March 13th 2017 - 08:30 UTC

  EU should be “open and generous” to UK citizens, says European Parliament leader

  

  British citizens should be able to choose to keep various benefits of EU membership including the freedom of movement after Brexit, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator has said. Guy Verhofstadt said he hoped to convince European leaders to allow Britons to keep certain rights if they apply for them on an individual basis.

• Monday, March 13th 2017 - 08:21 UTC

  Commons vote on Brexit bill; MPs are asked “not to tie the prime minister's hands”

  

  UK secretary David Davis has urged MPs to back the Brexit bill and insisted the UK would be prepared, if it has to leave the EU with no deal in place. The Brexit secretary urged MPs not to “tie the prime minister's hands” over MPs getting a final vote on the deal and on EU citizens' rights in the UK.

• Monday, March 13th 2017 - 08:06 UTC

  Queen's leads Commonwealth Day celebrations with a peace, respect and understanding message

  

  Queen Elizabeth has highlighted respect and understanding between nations as the key to peace in her annual message to the Commonwealth. The Queen's address to 2.4 billion citizens promotes this year's Commonwealth Day theme of “a peace-building Commonwealth”.

• Monday, March 13th 2017 - 08:00 UTC

  Falklands governor will deliver the Queen's Commonwealth message

  

  A full program of activities has been planned for this Monday, Commonwealth Day, by the Falkland Islands government. Students and staff from the Falklands Community School will raise the Commonwealth Flag at 08:00, and an hour later the Falklands Junior School together with Defence Force, FIDF, officers will raise the Commonwealth Flag on Victory Green, and the Speaker is to read the Commonwealth Affirmation.